Best City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
6
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$577,959
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$42,627
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
San Jose State University
Grad rate: 66.2% |
+$812,310 | $85,185 | $25,695 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$599,164 | $74,950 | $29,918 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of California-Berkeley
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$560,104 | $74,276 | $42,708 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$501,658 | $70,695 | $36,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Southern California
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$500,924 | $75,514 | $84,678 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
+$493,594 | $70,344 | $36,643 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning Degrees by State
Browse City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.