Urban & Regional Planningat University of Arizona
Graduates earn $40,037/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Urban & Regional Planning average. Base-case 10-year earnings $905K; scenarios range from $812K to $938K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arizona
While the raw earnings might not top the charts, your degree from the University of Arizona carries significant weight in the American Southwest. The program is deeply connected to the region's unique challenges—water rights, border community development, and managing rapid, sprawling growth. You'll find alumni well-represented in municipal and county planning departments across Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, as well as with the large-scale homebuilders and engineering firms shaping the Sun Belt. This regional focus means your starting salary may reflect local markets rather than those of coastal hubs, but your expertise will be in high demand. To maximize your options, aggressively pursue internships with private-sector land development consultants in Phoenix or Tucson; this experience will open doors to higher-paying private roles right after graduation.
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 University of Arizona'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 University of Arizona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arizona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arizona, 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 University of Arizona
What does a 53/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Urban & Regional Planning at University of Arizona?
At 53/100, University of Arizona'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 University of Arizona?
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.