Urban Planning Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Urban Planning programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/month. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lexington is approximately $53,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Urban Planning Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,050
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$357,160
Lifetime earnings premium ($449,400) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Urban Planning
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other Social Sciences Majors in Lexington
International Relations
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$54K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$54K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Lexington — 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 Lexington.