Masters in Urban
Planning Online

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Most Master’s in Urban Planning online programs do not require a GRE or GMAT test score to be submitted or have waived the requirement for the 2023 intake. However, some universities may ask for these standardized test scores if the applicant’s GPA is less than 3.0. Here are a few universities that offer Masters in Urban Planning Online No GRE / GMAT programs:

University of Southern California

University of Florida, Gainesville

Many students show interest in finishing their studies as early as possible to get a head start on their careers. Although most online Urban Planning Master’s require anywhere from 1 year and six months to 3 years to complete, some one-year Urban Planning Masters are available in specialized areas such as Urban Informatics, Sustainable Design, etc. Additionally, Graduate Certificate courses in Urban Planning can also be completed in 1 year. Here are a few universities that offer 1-Year Urban Planning Masters Programs:

Boston University

University of California, Berkeley

With most Master’s in Urban Planning online programs, the course fee is charged on a per-credit basis. Courses are usually given a course value of 2-3 credits with a maximum of 4 credits by the university, depending on the number of hours per week needed to complete the curriculum. One can refer to the course catalog to know the course value.

The fee can be paid as a lump sum or semester-wise, based on the number of credits the student chooses to complete for that particular semester. Some universities also offer an EMI option (example: 2-4 installments, or even a choice to postpone it to the next semester with a minimum late fee of $10-50).

As far as Urban Planning Master’s Degrees are concerned, students are expected to complete around 24-52 credits, including internship and thesis credits, within 1-3 years. The tuition cost of this varies by the university (example: $498 per credit in some state universities, to $2000 for executive Urban Planning management degrees), depending on the course value. While tuition & fees estimates can look overwhelming, the net price of the program provides a better estimate of how much money the student will spend on their college degree. The net price is tuition, subtracted by any potential scholarships, grants, schools’ tuition waivers, and other types of Federal Aid. If a student is selected for a teaching assistantship or a research assistantship – half-time (10 hours a week) or a part-time (20 hours a week) – they will be awarded an in-state status, bringing down the overall tuition fee. Sometimes students may also qualify for tuition waivers based on their GPA.

Master’s in Urban Planning online graduates have several opportunities to influence the quality of life in society. They have many roles in store for them as landscape & environmental designers, construction managers, planners, sustainability professionals, or specialists in historic preservation. Urban Planning graduates also involve themselves in making decisions that change our communities, state, and nation and positively address key societal challenges, including those related to health and wellbeing, injustice, economic prosperity, poverty, and climate change. Furthermore, they have great roles to play in public and private sectors and the governance in upgrading, reshaping & modernizing cities with the use of modern technologies.

Graduates of a Master’s in Urban Planning can come to expect good salaries and a promising job outlook. For example, the median average pay for urban and regional planners is $75,950, with a potential for jobs to grow by 11% between 2019 and 2029, much faster than average. A few other designations in the field of Urban Planning, with their median average salaries, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are:

1. Architects: $82,320
2. Landscape Architects: $70,630
3. Construction & Building Inspectors: $62,860
4. Construction Managers: $97,180
5. Architectural & Engineering Managers: $149,530
6. Social & Community Service Managers: $69,600

It is worth pointing out that, in general, the salaries of Urban Planners vary by state.

Many Universities offer voluntary/concurrent Graduate Certificate Urban Planning online. Some also offer the choice of pursuing a concurrent degree along with the Urban Planning degree, or even a dual degree leading to a Minor, another Master’s or a Ph.D. (example: Master in Sustainable Solutions, Master in Public Admin or Public Policy, or an Architecture degree, etc.).

Earning an Environmental Planning Certificate or Urban and Regional Planning Certificate online is an alternative to a full-fledged Master’s in Urban Planning or can also complement the degree to qualify for better, more specific jobs.

But adding certifications and credentialing is always advisable because they almost always add weight to a Master’s degree and open a wider selection of careers to choose from. A valuable certification in Urban Planning is the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification, which provides the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications. Other examples include – Certified Transportation Planner (CTP), Certified Urban Designer (CUD), Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Professional Transportation Planner (PTP), and Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP).

It must be noted that in some cases, and depending on the job and location, professionals may be required to have an Urban Planner License, eligibility for which differs by state. An unconfirmed source states that only New Jersey requires licensure, but students are advised to check with state authorities. However, when it comes to housing, becoming a home inspector requires a license through the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI).

A potential urban planner seeking/pursuing a Master’s in Urban Planning online degree may better understand their career by keeping in touch with professionals in the field. They can also boost their careers by getting to know people in the field of Urban Planning, by tapping into the resources mentioned below:

1. American Public Works Association: The American Public Works Association is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high-quality public works and services.
2. Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO): AMPO is a non-profit membership organization established in 1994 to serve the needs and interests of “metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)” nationwide. AMPO offers its member MPOs technical assistance and training, conferences and workshops, frequent print and electronic communications, research, a forum for transportation policy development and coalition building, and various other services.
3. National Association of Development Organizations (NADO): The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides training, information, and representation for regional development organizations in small metropolitan and rural America. The association, a public interest group founded in 1967, is the largest and leading advocate for a regional approach to community, economic and rural development and provides a network for its members to share ideas and innovations.
4. Planners Network: The Planners Network is an association of professionals, activists, academics, and students involved in physical, social, economic, and environmental planning in urban and rural areas, who promote fundamental change in our political and economic systems.
5. Urban Affairs Association: The Urban Affairs Association is an international professional organization for urban scholars, researchers, and public service providers. UAA exists to encourage disseminating information about urbanism and urbanization, supporting the development of university education, research, and service programs in urban affairs, and providing leadership in fostering urban affairs as a professional and academic field.
6. Urban and Regional Information System Association (URISA): URISA is a non-profit association of professionals using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other information technologies to solve challenges in all state and local government agencies and departments. Through its international, national and local chapter operations, URISA serves nearly 7,000 professionals worldwide.