Urban Planning Degree in Irvine, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Irvine, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.2 yrs
in Irvine
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Irvine, CA Overview
Irvine is one of California's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 16,104. Public tuition averages $13,752/year here — near the national average for public universities. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Irvine is approximately $54,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$13,752/yr
Private Tuition
$33,606/yr
Room & Board
$19,564/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,909/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Urban Planning Salary in Irvine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Irvine's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Irvine adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Irvine
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Irvine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,752 | Private avg: $33,606
Irvine avg aid: $8,909/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$133,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Irvine
ROI Payback Period
8.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Irvine
$324,536
Lifetime earnings premium ($457,800) minus total education cost ($133,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Irvine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Irvine for Urban Planning
University of California, Irvine
public
$13,752/yr
$55,008 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Irvine Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Irvine
Irvine offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Irvine Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Irvine
International Relations
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$55K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$55K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Irvine — 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 Irvine.