2026 Best Urban & Regional Planning Schools in California
Urban & Regional Planning degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best urban & regional planning schools.
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Best Schools for Urban & Regional Planning in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the urban & regional planning degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Urban & Regional Planning
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for urban & regional planning. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 35 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from San Jose State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $47,832. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $18,167 in student loans.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Students looking for a strong urban & regional planning program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $69,357 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $63,583 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at University Of Southern California
University Of California Irvine is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in urban & regional planning, ranking #5. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 30 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $66,092. Typical student debt for the program is $16,539.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at University Of California Irvine
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #6 among the best urban & regional planning schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $58,405. Students borrow a median of $15,292 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
San Diego State University earned the #7 position for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 12 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for San Diego State University
More Urban & Regional Planning Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
