2026 Best Urban And Regional Planning Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Urban And Regional Planning doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 146 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Urban And Regional Planning Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete their Urban And Regional Planning program here. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Out of the 146 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of California Berkeley landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. University Of California Berkeley Urban And Regional Planning students take on a median of $14,238 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
Out of the 146 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Harvard University landed the #3 spot. Located in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full Harvard University report
You'll be in good company at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in College Park, MD. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. The median Urban And Regional Planning program debt is $20,836. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #5 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top choices in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. University Of California Los Angeles posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $16,097. Get the full University Of California Los Angeles report
University Of Southern California placed #8 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete their Urban And Regional Planning program here. Read more about University Of Southern California
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Set in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. The median Urban And Regional Planning program debt is $16,155. More on University Of Pennsylvania
The University Of Texas At Austin did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The median Urban And Regional Planning program debt is $21,275. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Cornell University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Graduates carry a median of $14,275 in student loans. Get the full Cornell University report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. The median Urban And Regional Planning program debt is $19,137. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #13 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $15,117. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $17,736 to complete their Urban And Regional Planning program here. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Located in Honolulu, HI, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. University Of Hawaii At Manoa Urban And Regional Planning students take on a median of $20,577 in debt. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
University Of California Irvine ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. This public school is set in Irvine, CA. University Of California Irvine posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $16,539. See the full University Of California Irvine profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #17 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school based in Amherst, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $25,234. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Rutgers University New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
Texas A And M University College Station placed #19 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $21,000. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. The median Urban And Regional Planning program debt is $25,464. Read more about University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #21 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete their Urban And Regional Planning program here. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
Florida State University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Florida State University is a public school based in Tallahassee, FL. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. More on Florida State University
Arizona State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Arizona State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical Urban And Regional Planning student debt is $27,009. More on Arizona State University
University Of New Orleans placed #24 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of New Orleans
Boston University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. See the full Boston University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Urban And Regional Planning Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Clemson University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on Clemson University
Montgomery County Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. More on Montgomery County Community College
University Of Central Florida landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Central Florida profile
Kansas State University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Kansas State University report
Plymouth State University came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Plymouth State University
University Of Toledo did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about University Of Toledo
George Washington University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. More on George Washington University
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras came in at #33 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras profile
Auburn University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. Read more about Auburn University
California State University Fresno landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full California State University Fresno profile
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Suny At Albany profile
Miami University Oxford landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Miami University Oxford
University Of North Texas placed #38 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Texas profile
Kent State University At Kent landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Minnesota State University Mankato report
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #41 among Urban And Regional Planning schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Iowa State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. More on Iowa State University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. More on West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
California State University Northridge came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Get the full California State University Northridge report
South Dakota State University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. See the full South Dakota State University profile
University Of Kansas ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. More on University Of Kansas
Westfield State University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Westfield State University profile
Alabama A And M University did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Alabama A And M University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Urban And Regional Planning schools. See the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte profile
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on San Diego State University
Related Urban And Regional Planning Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Schools (All Levels)
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Urban And Regional Planning Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 146 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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