Urban & Regional Planningat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $45,960/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Urban & Regional Planning average. Base-case 10-year earnings $699K; scenarios range from $642K to $715K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona's "learn-by-doing" philosophy is a perfect match for a field like urban planning. Your strong earning potential isn't just about the degree; it's about your proximity to the massive, complex laboratory of Southern California. You'll be studying everything from suburban sprawl in the Inland Empire to coastal transit challenges and downtown revitalization projects in Los Angeles. This regional focus creates a powerful recruiting pipeline directly into the municipal governments, private consulting firms, and development companies that shape one of the world's largest metro areas. The high AI risk score highlights a shift in the profession: your value won't be in just running data, but in community engagement, navigating politics, and creative problem-solving. To stand out, aggressively pursue internships with local planning departments or firms to build your network and prove you can apply classroom theory to real-world civic challenges.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Urban & Regional Planning
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Urban & Regional Planning offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Urban & Regional Planning trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Urban & Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona
What does a 61/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Urban & Regional Planning at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
At 61/100, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Urban & Regional Planning program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Urban & Regional Planning at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
The 34% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.