Urban Planning Degree in Sandy Springs, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Sandy Springs, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Sandy Springs, GA Overview
While Sandy Springs has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Urban Planning students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,593/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 Sandy Springs is approximately $56,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,593/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,262/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
53%
Urban Planning Salary in Sandy Springs (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sandy Springs's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Sandy Springs adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Sandy Springs
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Sandy Springs tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $32,000
Sandy Springs avg aid: $12,262/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,572
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,875
vs HS diploma in Sandy Springs
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sandy Springs
$370,928
Lifetime earnings premium ($472,500) minus total education cost ($101,572)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Sandy Springs
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sandy Springs for Urban Planning
Sandy Springs State University
public
$10,774/yr
$43,096 total
University of Sandy Springs
public
$8,608/yr
$34,432 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sandy Springs Community College
$5,452/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sandy Springs Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Sandy Springs
International Relations
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$56K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$56K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$50K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Sandy Springs — 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 Sandy Springs.