Urban & Regional Planningat Ohio State University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $41,501/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Urban & Regional Planning average. Base-case 10-year earnings $580K; scenarios range from $545K to $587K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Ohio State
As an Ohio State planning graduate, your career path is deeply tied to the growth of Columbus itself. The university's Knowlton School of Architecture is well-regarded, and its strong connections to state and local agencies mean you'll have a direct pipeline to public sector jobs right in your backyard—think roles with the City of Columbus or regional planning commissions. While private consulting might offer higher initial pay, many graduates build stable, impactful careers in government, shaping the very region where they studied. This public service focus, common for a large state university, helps explain the earnings profile relative to programs in more expensive coastal cities.
To maximize your opportunities, aggressively pursue internships with private development or transportation consulting firms in the Columbus metro area. This will give you a crucial competitive edge and a clearer view of both the public and private career tracks before you graduate.
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 Ohio State'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 Ohio State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Ohio State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio State, 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 Ohio State
What does a 45/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Urban & Regional Planning at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Urban & Regional Planning programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Urban & Regional Planning at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
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.