2026 Best Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best urban & regional planning schools.
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Best Schools for Urban & Regional Planning in the Middle Atlantic 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
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for urban & regional planning. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 17 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Villanova University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 18 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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New York 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 New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 55 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from New York University earn around $71,369 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in urban & regional planning, ranking #4. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 64 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $72,127. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 29 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $50,877. Students borrow a median of $14,275 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University landed the #6 spot for urban & regional planning this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $73,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for George Washington University
Suny At Albany placed #7 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $44,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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Georgetown University came in at #8 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 28 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from Georgetown University earn around $63,579 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Georgetown University
Pratt Institute Main earned the #9 position for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $38,569 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,103 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo earned the #10 position for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University At Buffalo awarded about 28 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $49,085. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
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Temple University earned the #11 position for urban & regional planning this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #12 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $58,402 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,120.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 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.