Urban & Regional Planning is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 146 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for urban & regional planning students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Urban & Regional Planning School
The urban & regional planning program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Urban & Regional Planning Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Urban & Regional Planning School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Urban & Regional Planning Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Urban & Regional Planning Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Urban & Regional Planning in the United States
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.
University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2026 ranking of the best urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong urban & regional planning program will find one at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 90 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $81,382. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Villanova University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
Get the full urban & regional planning details for Villanova University
A rank of #4 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for urban & regional planning. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 35 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at San Jose State University
Students looking for a strong urban & regional planning program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 39 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $47,832 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,167 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
New York University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $71,369 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at New York University
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #7 position for urban & regional planning this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $69,357 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Southern California came in at #8 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 62 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $63,583 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from University Of Southern California
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 33 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $61,042 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #10 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York 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.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Irvine landed the #11 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 30 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $66,092 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for University Of California Irvine
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #12 position for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 41 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $67,972. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $53,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,736 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #14 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $58,405. Typical student debt for the program is $15,292.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
University Of Georgia landed the #15 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. About 12 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $53,546 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from University Of Georgia
San Diego State University earned the #16 position for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 12 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
Read more about the urban & regional planning program at San Diego State University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #17 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $64,191 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from The University Of Texas At Austin
Cornell University earned the #18 position for urban & regional planning this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 29 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $50,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,275 to complete this degree.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for Cornell University
University Of Florida placed #19 among the best urban & regional planning schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Florida earn around $69,502 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for University Of Florida
Texas A And M University College Station placed #20 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 70 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $50,580 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from Texas A And M University College Station
George Washington University earned the #21 position for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Get the full urban & regional planning details for George Washington University
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $58,018 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
Get the full urban & regional planning details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 13 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban & regional planning from University Of Nebraska Lincoln
University Of Central Florida landed the #24 spot for urban & regional planning this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 27 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
Get the full urban & regional planning details for University Of Central Florida
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #25 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 47 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $65,697 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
See the full urban & regional planning program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Rest of the Top 50 Urban & Regional Planning Schools
These schools also placed among the best for urban & regional planning this year:
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 · 146 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).
