Urban Planning Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Urban Planning programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Virginia Beach is approximately $44,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Urban Planning Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,200
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$286,820
Lifetime earnings premium ($369,600) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Urban Planning
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Virginia Cities
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Virginia Beach
International Relations
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$44K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$44K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$39K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.