Urban Planning Degree in Spokane Valley, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Spokane Valley, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
123.1
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Spokane Valley, WA Overview
While Spokane Valley has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Urban Planning students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,918/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 Spokane Valley is approximately $61,550.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,918/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,539/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
49%
Urban Planning Salary in Spokane Valley (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Spokane Valley's cost of living index of 123.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Spokane Valley adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Spokane Valley
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Spokane Valley tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Spokane Valley avg aid: $15,539/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,872
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,465
vs HS diploma in Spokane Valley
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Spokane Valley
$406,148
Lifetime earnings premium ($517,020) minus total education cost ($110,872)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Spokane Valley
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Spokane Valley for Urban Planning
Spokane Valley State University
public
$10,998/yr
$43,992 total
University of Spokane Valley
public
$12,426/yr
$49,704 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Spokane Valley Community College
$5,510/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Spokane Valley Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Spokane Valley
International Relations
$62K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$62K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$62K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$62K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$62K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Spokane Valley — 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 Spokane Valley.