Urban & Regional Planningat Westfield State University
Graduates earn $32,802/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Urban & Regional Planning average. Base-case 10-year earnings $581K; scenarios range from $546K to $588K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Westfield State University
While the career paths for planners can lead to high-paying leadership roles, the reality for many graduates from this program is a tougher, more localized job market. Westfield is in Western Massachusetts, a region with fewer large-scale development projects and municipal planning departments compared to the bustling Boston metro area. This means you'll likely be competing for entry-level positions in smaller towns or regional non-profits, which often have tighter budgets and offer more modest starting salaries.
The program provides a solid foundation, but it lacks the powerful, specialized recruiting pipelines of larger, more prestigious universities. Your success will hinge on your own initiative. Therefore, your key action item should be securing multiple internships, even if unpaid, with regional planning commissions or private consulting firms in Springfield or Worcester to build a professional network and practical portfolio before you even 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 Westfield State University'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 Westfield State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Westfield State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Westfield State University, 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 Westfield State University
How does Westfield State University's Urban & Regional Planning program score?
This program scores 33/100 — on the lower end for Urban & Regional Planning. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Urban & Regional Planning to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Urban & 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.
Why are Urban & Regional Planning earnings lower at Westfield State University?
Lower starting pay at Westfield State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.