2026 Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Master’s Degree Schools
[L& Use Planning & Management/Development](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/land-use-planning-and-management-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for l& use planning & management/development students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in l& use planning & management/development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Schools
For return on investment in l& use planning & management/development, no school beat University Of Maryland College Park this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. L& Use Planning & Management/development graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, l& use planning & management/development degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in l& use planning & management/development, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for l& use planning & management/development graduates is $24,271. Early-career l& use planning & management/development graduates make about $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value l& use planning & management/development schools. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. L& Use Planning & Management/development graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. L& Use Planning & Management/development graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $43,262 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Other L& Use Planning & Management/Development Degree Levels
Explore the best-value l& use planning & management/development schools at other degree levels:
View All L& Use Planning & Management/Development Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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.
