When you earn a degree or certificate in urban planning, you'll find a world of opportunity. Your education gives you the tools to excel in an industry where your work truly matters. Every city is a living, breathing place where you can shape communities to be more livable, inclusive, and sustainable. Every project has impact, and every decision creates change.
Build a future that brings communities into conversation and into movement. As a planner, you'll collaborate with agencies across multiple fields like housing, transportation, and environmental science to work toward a common goal. As you grow in your career, you'll see firsthand how planning helps create more equitable places and fuels positive change. Your work will leave a lasting impact and help create a meaningful legacy for others to build upon.
Graduates with an urban planning degree find a lifetime career moving among one of three general areas.
Planners contribute at all levels, from local city planning offices to federal agencies, shaping policies and regulations.
Transform communities through land use, environmental planning, housing, and transportation projects with the speed and innovation of the private sector.
Focus on a specific community need such as affordable housing, environmental justice, or social equity through mission-driven organizations.
Urban planning is a career that grows with you. It combines creativity, problem-solving, and social impact, offering opportunities to work in many different industries. As cities evolve, planners are always in demand to design neighborhoods, housing projects, business districts, public spaces, and sustainable infrastructure that meet changing community needs.
With each project, you gain new skills, tackle fresh challenges, and make a real difference. Planning is a field that allows you to work with the world around you, providing long-term career stability, diverse opportunities, and the chance to leave a meaningful legacy. By making it a profession, you can pursue with purpose for a lifetime.
Once you complete your formal education, the next step is to find a great job. It's important to build a strong portfolio of projects, internships, and volunteer work to showcase your skills. Network with professionals in different sectors and attend career fairs and events to highlight your relevant experience. Then apply for the jobs that best match your interests.
You can start your job search by exploring the American Planning Association's job board or visiting the career center on the ACSP website.