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City/Urban Colleges Under $20,000

Programs with net price under $20,000. See our methodology.

Planning programs nationwide show striking cost differences between private and public options, with Brigham Young University charging $14,487 while California State University-Fresno offers the same education for just $6,480. The 15 most affordable programs span from California's Central Valley to Michigan's research corridors, reflecting planning education's geographic reach across different urban contexts. Eastern Washington graduates earn $33,993 annually while Cal Poly Pomona alumni command $47,260, highlighting how regional job markets affect planner salaries. The field connects directly to America's housing crisis, with planners working for municipal governments, consulting firms, and development companies addressing zoning reform and transit-oriented development. Florida State maintains an 83% graduation rate despite accepting only 25% of applicants, while Arizona State graduates 68% of students with a 90% acceptance rate. These programs prepare students for careers in cities experiencing rapid growth, where planners shape everything from bike lane networks to affordable housing policies.
39
Programs
$6,480 – $19,813
Net Price Range
$38,743
Avg. Program Earnings
65.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

39 City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
2 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
3 $8,001 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
4 $10,997 $5,656 83.0% 25.0%
5 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
6 $12,837 $11,988 55.9% 69.5%
7 $13,091 $8,353 47.2% 96.1%
8 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
9 $13,670 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
10 $14,352 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
11 $14,487 $6,496 82.2% 66.7%
12 $14,559 $10,024 28.7% 68.4%
13 $14,761 $8,212 57.9% 88.5%
14 $14,832 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
15 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
16 $15,288 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
17 $15,323 $9,998 52.1% 87.9%
18 $15,590 $11,505 88.6% 44.6%
19 $15,624 $11,075 85.2% 30.4%
20 $15,898 $10,758 63.3% 69.0%
21 $15,960 $13,626 65.9% 86.8%
22 $16,177 $10,020 51.2% 86.3%
23 $16,338 $9,810 23.6%
24 $16,438 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
25 $16,456 $10,638 67.4% 91.1%
26 $16,487 $7,541 73.1% 83.1%
27 $16,514 $7,361 62.1% 92.3%
28 $17,084 $15,510 45.5% 83.2%
29 $17,216 $11,380 52.4% 91.9%
30 $17,502 $9,024 57.3% 92.6%
31 $17,883 $10,942 70.5% 95.1%
32 $18,165 $10,497 75.5% 90.2%
33 $18,219 $9,299 59.6% 86.1%
34 $18,292 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
35 $18,561 $11,882 54.9% 81.5%
36 $18,701 $15,298 57.8% 84.6%
37 $19,678 $11,678 87.6% 31.4%
38 $19,685 $14,558 47.4% 97.6%
39 $19,813 $60,156 96.1% 4.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $40,000 earnings gap between planning graduates?

Regional job markets create significant salary differences for planning graduates. Eastern Washington alumni earn $33,993 annually in smaller Pacific Northwest markets, while Cal Poly Pomona graduates command $47,260 in Southern California's competitive planning sector. Florida Atlantic graduates earn $44,170, reflecting Florida's booming development industry. These differences often correlate with local housing costs and the complexity of planning challenges in each region.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable planning programs?

The most selective programs achieve the highest completion rates, with University of Michigan graduating 93% of students despite charging $14,832 annually. Florida State maintains an 83% rate while accepting only 25% of applicants. In contrast, Alabama A&M graduates just 29% of students despite lower admission standards. California State University-Fresno graduates 55% of students while accepting 95% of applicants.

Is private planning education worth the extra cost compared to public options?

Brigham Young University charges $14,487 as the only private option in this affordable range, graduating 82% of students with a 67% acceptance rate. This compares favorably to many public programs, though California State University-Fresno costs less than half at $6,480. The choice often depends on specific program strengths and regional job market connections rather than public versus private status.

Does student debt burden vary significantly across these planning programs?

Available debt data shows substantial differences among affordable programs. Cal Poly Pomona graduates carry just $15,000 in average debt while earning $47,260 annually, creating a favorable debt-to-income ratio. Florida Atlantic graduates owe $21,114 with $44,170 earnings. Arizona State students graduate with $23,444 in debt but earn only $35,518, suggesting regional salary differences affect debt sustainability.

Where do the most competitive affordable planning programs operate?

University of Michigan leads in selectivity, accepting just 18% of applicants while maintaining a $14,832 net cost and 93% graduation rate. Florida State follows with 25% acceptance and 83% graduation rates at $10,997 annually. These flagship programs compete with specialized planning schools while offering significant cost advantages over private alternatives that can exceed $50,000 per year.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.