City & Regional Planning graduates earn $66,874 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,087 and $86,436. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers City & Regional Planning as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Architecture and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
City & Regional Planning is a focused area of study within Architecture. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $66,874 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 140 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,481 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$44,146
Median Earnings · 4yr
$66,874
Colleges Offering
140
Graduates / Year
2,481
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,653
How Much Do City & Regional Planning Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing City & Regional Planning, a typical graduate earns $66,874, above the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $50,087 and $86,436, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $44,146 at one year out to $66,874 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$66,874
4-Year National Median
Above the national median for college graduates.
$68,163
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every City & Regional Planning graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$50,08725th pct.
$66,874Median
$86,43675th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $66,874 against an estimated $70,612 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 53 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,481 students who complete City & Regional Planning programs each year, the majority (60%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
30%60%
Master's60%
Bachelor's30%
Post-Bacc Cert.6%
What Can You Do With a City & Regional Planning Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. City & Regional Planning graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Architectural & Engineering Manager pays the most at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as architectural design methods, aesthetics and design, and structures and materials.
Active ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingSystems AnalysisReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
Top Colleges for City & Regional Planning
Not sure where to study City & Regional Planning? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by City & Regional Planning graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Architecture Programs
City & Regional Planning is not the only path through Architecture: 8 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a City & Regional Planning program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make City & Regional Planning a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $66,874 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $44,146 at graduation to $66,874 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +5.5% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 18,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
City & Regional Planning Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do City & Regional Planning graduates earn?
$66,874 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $50,087 and $86,436, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a City & Regional Planning degree?
$44,146 in the first year out. That grows to $66,874 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a City & Regional Planning degree?
Architectural & Engineering Manager is one path, and it pays a median of $171,270 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a City & Regional Planning program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many City & Regional Planning students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer City & Regional Planning?
140 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a City & Regional Planning degree worth it?
$66,874 median earnings four years out against $17,653 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between City & Regional Planning and Architecture?
City & Regional Planning is the narrower of the two: Architecture covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to City & Regional Planning-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in City & Regional Planning graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring City & Regional Planning graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for City & Regional Planning graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for City & Regional Planning graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Architectural & Engineering Manager is among the strongest-growth roles at +5.5%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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