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

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,256/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (34% exposed)
Job Market Medium (20,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 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 $565K $560K $528K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.3x 12.2x 11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 6.0x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 74% 69% 56%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,792
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,160
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Texas State University's City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning graduates start at $47,256/yr — above the $42,023 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 12.2x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,792 in median debt clears quickly against $47,256 in annual earnings.

Ranked #6 out of 15 programs, Texas 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 $47,256 to $57,160 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Texas State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 34,547 students in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas 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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Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Texas State University's City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning program score?
This program scores 52/100, 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 →