2026 Best Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Urban & Regional Planning degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban & regional planning programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for urban & regional planning students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Urban & Regional Planning in the Great Lakes Region
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Cincinnati Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in urban & regional planning. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 37 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $46,122 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,464.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 47 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $47,305. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full urban & regional planning details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Wayne State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $64,788 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Wayne State University
A rank of #4 makes Ball State University one of the top schools for urban & regional planning. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $47,863 in their early career. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Ball State University
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 27 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $35,960. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Henry Ford Community College placed #6 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Henry Ford Community College awarded about 28 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,876.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for Henry Ford Community College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.
