Urban Studies and Planning

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What is Urban Studies and Planning?

Urban Studies & Planning focuses on the way our cities are designed, constructed, and planned. You'll have the opportunity to decide what you enjoy more, from planning parks to working on highway transportation. Projects can range from upgrading a historical neighborhood to city planning. As an Urban Studies and Planning student, you’ll study:

Planning philosophy
Analytical methods
Problem formulation and resolution
Law and local government
Aesthetic, cultural, social, economic, ecological, and physical characteristics of human settlement

This major is intended to prepare you for a career as a professional planner or graduate study in planning or a related field.

Career Options

Economic development
Environmental protection & regulation
Historic preservation & regulation
Housing & community development
Nonprofit work
Parks & recreation
Planning, zoning, & building
Real estate development
State government
Transportation & parking

Post-Graduation Success¹

83% employed or continuing education

37% employed after graduation

46% attending graduate school

$52,600 average starting annual income

Sample employer destinations: Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative (1), Cushman & Wakefield (1), Kane County Division of Transportation (1) View All

Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, University of British Columbia View All

Program Resources

College of Fine & Applied Arts Program Webpage Degree Requirements

Review Criteria

First-Year Major-Specific Criteria

Strong social science coursework and performance

View All Review Criteria

Transfer Criteria

Transfer Handbook

Graduation & Retention²

3.7 years to degree

100% first-year retention rate

64% four-year graduation rate

91% six-year graduation rate

Annual Program Costs³

Illinois Resident

Tuition: $14,912
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,558
Total: $39,652

Non-Resident

Tuition: $37,588
Fees: $5,182
Expenses:$19,898
Total: $62,668

International

Tuition: $38,630
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,898
Total: $63,710

Related Majors

Civil Engineering - ENG

Landscape Architecture - FAA

Public Policy & Law - ACES

¹ Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics are aggregated from the past three years. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website. For average wage or salary information five years after entry into an occupation, visit the Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer.

² Graduation and retention data comes from several majors within a similar interest area. Data may not yet be available for newly created programs. Years-to-degree data is only available for programs from which you can earn a degree. Retention and graduation rates are only available for programs that you can apply directly into. Retention rates reflect retention to the university, not necessarily retention within the major.

³ "Expenses" are estimated and include books, supplies, housing, and other living expenses. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. To learn more about costs, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website. To learn the average monthly student loan payment over a period of 20 years based on estimated cost, visit the Illinois College2Career website.