Urban Planning Degree in Mesa, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Mesa, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Mesa
Cost of Living
110
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Mesa, AZ Overview
Mesa is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 36,638. Public tuition averages $12,467/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 Mesa is approximately $55,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$36,100/yr
Room & Board
$13,027/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,459/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
54%
Urban Planning Salary in Mesa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesa's cost of living index of 110 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Mesa adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Mesa
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Mesa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $36,100
Mesa avg aid: $15,459/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,976
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,500
vs HS diploma in Mesa
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesa
$360,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($462,000) minus total education cost ($101,976)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Mesa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesa for Urban Planning
Arizona State University Polytechnic
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
A.T. Still University
private
$42,500/yr
$170,000 total
Benedictine University Mesa
private
$29,700/yr
$118,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesa Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Mesa
Mesa offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesa Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Mesa
International Relations
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$53K 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 Mesa — 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 Mesa.