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City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,146/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (34% exposed)

Job Market Medium (20,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 15 City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$618K	$609K	$568K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.7x	14.5x	13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	74%	69%	56%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,988

Out-of-state: $110,732 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,658

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,146 per year, City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning graduates from Iowa State University earn slightly above the $42,023 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 34% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$44,146 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #5 out of 15 programs, Iowa State University's City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,146 to $61,658 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Iowa State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Iowa State University prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr

Urban and regional planners $83,720/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning at Other Schools

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa State University's City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning program score?

This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning graduates.

How vulnerable is City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 34% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →