Urban Planning Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$108K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/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 Philadelphia is approximately $75,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Urban Planning Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$477,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Urban Planning
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Philadelphia
International Relations
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$72K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$75K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$75K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$75K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$66K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.