What is the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Planning Programs?
The Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs (Guide) is the only comprehensive ranking and listing of graduate urban, city, and regional planning programs available. Planetizen staff exhaustively research each edition of the guide. Over six previous editions, thousands of students have used the Guide to inform their decision on which graduate programs to apply to and, ultimately, attend.
The Guide is published both in digital and print formats.
How can I participate?
To participate in the Guide, a program must offer a graduate degree that includes the word “Planning” in the official degree diploma. If you did not receive an invitation to participate and would like to be considered, please email guide@planetizen.com.
What is in the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Planning Programs?
The Guide totals 400+ pages with a wide variety of materials to stimulate interest in graduate urban planning education. The Guide includes (partial list):
- Detailed profiles of graduate urban planning programs in the United States.
- Profiles of planning students and professionals.
- Advice for selecting a planning program and applying to graduate school.
- An introduction to graduate study in the field of urban planning.
- The Top 25 ranked graduate urban planning programs in the United States.
- The top-ranked schools by region (Midwest, Northeast, South, and West).
- Top 25 graduate urban planning programs according to educators.
- Numerous additional rankings, such as by program size, metropolitan area size, and more.
Considered together, the student profiles, professional profiles, program profiles, and rankings included in the Guide provide a detailed pathway for every prospective planning student to choose the right program for them. The Guide's various resources and data approach the same unifying theme from a variety of angles: Planners work to enable a world that is healthier, safer, and more prosperous for more of the people who call it home. There is a program that will provide the perfect fit for pursuing a career in planning for every prospective student.
Can I advertise in the Guide?
Because the Planetizen Guide is seen by an estimated 50-75% of all students who apply to graduate study in the field of planning, it can be an effective venue for advertising. For information about advertising, please email advertise@planetizen.com.
How does the Program Survey work?
Planetizen conducts a survey of all graduate urban planning programs across the United States for each edition of the Guide. Based on feedback from planning programs in previous years, Planetizen has optimized survey data collection using a web-based survey instrument that will make the process of providing information to Planetizen more efficient for planning programs. This survey instrument, developed by leading digital agency Urban Insight, will auto-calculate selected fields (e.g., Student-Faculty Ratio), and will make it easier to complete the program survey over several sessions.
Once data is collected from a planning program, Planetizen will validate the data and request revisions or provide a proof for the program to review.
If you completed a Program Survey for the 6th Edition of the Guide, several answers have been pre-filled for your convenience. Survey takers will be able to modify these questions as needed.
How can I get a copy of the Guide?
Each planning program that participates in the Planetizen Guide receives a free copy of the Guide upon publication. If you participated in the previous (6th Edition) process, please contact the 2019 program chair for your 6th edition copy. If you did not receive a copy of the guide previously, please email guide@planetizen.com, and we’ll get you your copy.
Where can I find previous rankings?
With each edition, Planetizen releases its list of the top 25 graduate planning programs. As a public service, we publish the list of the top 10 graduate programs on Planetizen.
- Planetizen Guide, 6th Edition
What version of the Guide is this?
The first version of the Guide was published in 2007. Planetizen published the 5th Edition in 2017 and the 6th Edition 2019. Planetizen is currently working on the 7th Edition, which will be published in 2023.
What is Planetizen?
Planetizen is a community of planning intelligence. Planetizen is a fiercely independent platform that creates, curates, and amplifies stories and resources to inform planning and people passionate about planning. Planetizen Courses is the leading source for online education for urban planners and urban designers.
Do I have to pay for the Guide?
Each participating planning program receives a free digital copy of the Guide. For everyone else, the Guide is available for a modest fee in digital and print formats in the Planetizen Store.
I need help. Who should I contact?
We’re here to help. Please email guide@planetizen.com. We respond within one day (Pacific Time). We're happy to chat by phone when necessary, but please email first.
What methodology does Planetizen use for the Guide?
Planetizen’s ranking system is based on a combination of statistical data collected from the programs themselves and opinion data gathered from planning educators. Broadly, Planetizen considers data in four broad areas: Opinion of planning educators, program characteristics, faculty characteristics, and student characteristics. While Planetizen does not publish or disclose its precise methodology, a detailed summary of the methodology, including approximate rankings for different criteria, is included in each edition of the Guide.
Does Planetizen work with ACSP?
In the past, Planetizen has consulted with a special committee of representatives from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) to ensure that the Guide meets the highest standards of data collection and analysis. The ACSP has decided not to participate in the 7th Edition of the Guide.
Is Planetizen affiliated with the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)?
Planetizen is in no way associated with the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), the American Planning Association (APA), or the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).