City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs
CIP 0403 · Architecture · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
48 institutions report graduate earnings for City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $79,383 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43× and 93% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 3 of the 55 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $106,674 n=36 | 97% 5yr | $74,287 | 0.70× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's | $106,094 n=23 | 100% | $15,500 | 0.15× | Above +176% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Harvard UniversityMA · Master's | $102,979 n=54 | 91% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.40× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Professional | $102,303 n=27 | 100% 1yr | $30,203 | 0.29× | Above +36% | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMA · Master's | $100,130 n=56 | 93% 5yr | $40,833 | 0.41× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Master's | $93,415 n=25 | 88% 5yr | $61,500 | 0.66× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's | $90,541 n=82 | 96% 5yr | $51,793 | 0.57× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Master's | $90,339 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +20% | — |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Master's | $89,909 n=21 | 100% 5yr | $38,313 | 0.43× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Master's | $88,656 n=59 | 94% 5yr | $57,982 | 0.65× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | University of California-IrvineCA · Master's | $87,944 n=29 | 95% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.47× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Cornell UniversityNY · Master's | $86,756 n=31 | 100% 1yr | $43,408 | 0.50× | Above +22% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Master's | $86,237 n=27 | 100% 5yr | $27,486 | 0.32× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Master's | $85,806 n=43 | 92% 5yr | $47,538 | 0.55× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's | $85,467 n=55 | 98% 5yr | $40,998 | 0.48× | Above +14% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA · Master's | $85,467 n=55 | 98% 5yr | $40,998 | 0.48× | Above +14% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusCO · Master's | $84,407 n=55 | 92% 5yr | $63,368 | 0.75× | Above +25% | Below 1/2 |
| 18 | University of FloridaFL · Master's | $84,226 n=37 | 96% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.49× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · Master's | $82,613 n=41 | 100% 5yr | $34,940 | 0.42× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Master's | $82,553 n=20 | 97% 5yr | $44,600 | 0.54× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 21 | Wayne State UniversityMI · Master's | $81,363 n=22 | 100% 1yr | $51,250 | 0.63× | Above +29% | — |
| 22 | Georgetown UniversityDC · Master's | $80,847 n=17 | 100% 1yr | $81,312 | 1.01× | Below -6% | — |
| 23 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $80,820 n=31 | — | $19,334 | 0.24× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Boston UniversityMA · Master's | $80,594 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +6% | — |
| 25 | Portland State UniversityOR · Master's | $80,453 n=30 | 92% 5yr | $39,229 | 0.49× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of South FloridaFL · Master's | $79,536 n=17 | 86% 1yr | — | — | Above +43% | — |
| 27 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Master's | $79,527 n=17 | — | $33,819 | 0.42× | Above +34% | — |
| 28 | The University of Texas at AustinTX · Master's | $79,383 n=34 | 93% 1yr | $34,800 | 0.44× | Above +21% | — |
| 29 | Florida State UniversityFL · Master's | $78,175 n=37 | 90% 5yr | $27,783 | 0.35× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Master's | $77,299 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +25% | — |
| 31 | University of OregonOR · Master's | $76,795 n=27 | 96% 5yr | $42,800 | 0.56× | Above +24% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Illinois ChicagoIL · Master's | $76,505 n=62 | 93% 5yr | $33,645 | 0.44× | Above +12% | Below 1/2 |
| 33 | University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's | $76,360 n=65 | 91% 5yr | $24,863 | 0.33× | Above +108% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Master's | $74,818 n=53 | 95% 1yr | $37,939 | 0.51× | Above +9% | — |
| 35 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Master's | $74,274 n=17 | 88% 5yr | — | — | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $73,413 n=24 | 90% 5yr | $17,834 | 0.24× | Above +72% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Master's | $73,208 n=49 | 94% 5yr | $35,500 | 0.48× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Bachelor's | $72,704 n=45 | 93% 5yr | $15,000 | 0.21× | Above +89% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $71,158 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +103% | — |
| 40 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $70,592 n=33 | 84% 5yr | $17,720 | 0.25× | Above +97% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Pratt Institute-MainNY · Master's | $70,282 n=16 | 92% 5yr | $108,337 | 1.54× | Below -1% | Below 1/2 |
| 42 | Clemson UniversitySC · Master's | $69,971 n=20 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +22% | — |
| 43 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $68,786 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +72% | — |
| 44 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $68,163 n=136 | 44% | $23,444 | 0.34× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 45 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $68,163 n=136 | 44% | $23,444 | 0.34× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | Florida Atlantic UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $66,093 n=34 | 87% 5yr | $21,114 | 0.32× | Above +96% | Clears 2/2 |
| 47 | University of KansasKS · Master's | $65,373 n=16 | 90% 1yr | — | — | Above +11% | — |
| 48 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $61,173 n=37 | 82% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.40× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 49 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $60,699 n=20 | — | $25,464 | 0.42× | Above +65% | — |
| 50 | Westfield State UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $59,524 n=16 | 81% 5yr | $23,628 | 0.40× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · UG cert | $59,514 n=24 | — | $25,500 | 0.43× | Above +53% | — |
| 52 | University at BuffaloNY · Master's | $58,546 n=24 | 80% 1yr | $41,000 | 0.70× | Below -18% | — |
| 53 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $57,573 n=45 | 87% 5yr | $24,000 | 0.42× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 54 | Ball State UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $55,663 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.48× | Above +49% | — |
| 55 | Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $55,625 n=26 | 76% 5yr | $20,792 | 0.37× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $90,362 | 4 |
| California | $89,909 | 9 |
| New York | $86,756 | 5 |
| Washington | $85,467 | 3 |
| Florida | $78,856 | 4 |
| Arizona | $71,218 | 4 |
| Texas | $70,592 | 3 |
| Ohio | $60,699 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs in this dataset are New York University ($106,674), University of Southern California ($106,094), Harvard University ($102,979). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 3 of the 55 City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.