Urban Planning Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Urban Planning programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $41,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Urban Planning Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$250,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($344,400) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Urban Planning
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Baton Rouge
International Relations
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$39K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$41K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$41K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$36K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$36K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Baton Rouge — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Urban Planning ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baton Rouge.