Urban Planning Degree in Knoxville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Knoxville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Knoxville
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Knoxville, TN Overview
While Knoxville has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Urban Planning students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,300/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Knoxville is approximately $42,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,792/yr
Private Tuition
$47,660/yr
Room & Board
$10,300/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,344/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Urban Planning Salary in Knoxville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Knoxville's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Knoxville adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Knoxville
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Knoxville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,792 | Private avg: $47,660
Knoxville avg aid: $10,344/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,368
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Knoxville
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Knoxville
$280,632
Lifetime earnings premium ($357,000) minus total education cost ($76,368)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Knoxville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Knoxville for Urban Planning
University of Tennessee
public
$13,264/yr
$53,056 total
Pellissippi State Community College
public
$4,320/yr
$17,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pellissippi State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Knoxville
Knoxville offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Knoxville Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Knoxville
International Relations
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$43K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$43K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$37K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Knoxville — 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 Knoxville.