Urban Planning Degree in Columbus, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Columbus, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Columbus
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Columbus, OH Overview
Columbus is one of Ohio's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 31,081. Public tuition averages $11,936/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Columbus is approximately $51,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,936/yr
Private Tuition
$25,555/yr
Room & Board
$11,227/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,971/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
59%
Urban Planning Salary in Columbus (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbus's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Columbus adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Columbus
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Columbus tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,936 | Private avg: $25,555
Columbus avg aid: $15,971/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Columbus
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbus
$339,948
Lifetime earnings premium ($432,600) minus total education cost ($92,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Columbus
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbus for Urban Planning
Ohio State University
public
$11,936/yr
$47,744 total
Capital University
private
$39,426/yr
$157,704 total
Franklin University
private
$11,683/yr
$46,732 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbus State Community College
$5,016/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Columbus
Columbus offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbus Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Ohio Cities
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Columbus
International Relations
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$52K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$52K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Columbus — 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 Columbus.