by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 82 degrees and certificates in Land Use Planning & Management/Development. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Land Use Planning & Management/Development Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $42,496 one year after completing, rising to $60,588 after four years.
Studying Land Use Planning & Management/Development covers Land Use Planning And Management/development. A Program That Focuses On How Public And/or Private Land And Associated Resources Can Be Preserved, Developed, And Used For Maximum Social, Economic, And Environmental Benefit. Includes Instruction In Natural Resources Management, Natural Resource Economics, Public Policy, Regional And Land Use Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment, Applicable Law And Regulations, Government And Politics, Principles Of Business And Real Estate Land Use, Statistical And Analytical Tools, Computer Applications, Mapping And Report Preparation, Site Analysis, Cost Analysis, And Communications Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, land use planning & management/development draws strong interest, with 82 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award land use planning & management/development degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 17.
By level, the 82 awards include 34 bachelor’s degrees, 44 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 43% of land use planning & management/development degrees and certificates in the latest year (35 of 82). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (60) and Black or African American (7), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Land Use Planning & Management/Development Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks land use planning & management/development schools within 3 states. In all, 14 colleges offer land use planning & management/development programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Land Use Planning & Management/Development Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common land use planning & management/development credential is the master’s degree: 44 of the 82 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to land use planning & management/development call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a land use planning & management/development degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 34 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 44 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to land use planning & management/development, at 35.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Master’s degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Land Use Planning & Management/Development, with an average median salary of $74,463; the strongest outlook belongs to Conservation Scientists, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Instructor, Range and Road Instructor and Assistant Teaching Professor.
The occupation related to land use planning & management/development with the most projected jobs is Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 497,622.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
Land Use Planning & Management/Development graduates earn a median $42,496 one year after completing their program, $60,588 after four years and $58,501 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,496 |
| 4 years | $60,588 |
| 5 years | $58,501 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to land use planning & management/development, with a median salary of $81,436.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
Land Use Planning & Management/Development has 7 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 3,063 degrees a year; the largest are Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General (1,621), Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (335) and Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other (318). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
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