Urban Planning Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Urban Planning students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $47,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Urban Planning Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,250
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$330,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($399,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Urban Planning
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Wilmington
International Relations
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$48K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.