Planning is Leading
More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and these populations face many pressing issues—climate change, poverty, affordable housing, and equal access to opportunity. Planners work with people to address these challenges by creating more sustainable, efficient, equitable, and healthy communities.
Our MUP program prepares planners to guide decision-makers toward the best choices to address these challenges.
Who Gets a Master of Urban Planning?
Who Gets a Master of Urban Planning?
Students in our MUP program have diverse prior degrees and professional experience in other fields, including:
- Architecture
- Landscape architecture
- Sustainable design
- Geography
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental science
- Community development
- Affordable housing advocacy
- Data informatics
- Humanities
- Political science
Students with degrees or professional experience in other fields are welcome to apply.
What Can I Do with a Master of Urban Planning?
The MUP is a 2-year, professional degree program. Our graduates pursue a wide range of positions in:
- local and county government planning and development departments
- private sector consulting, design, and engineering firms
- non-profit neighborhood organizations, advocacy groups, think tanks, and international organizations
- metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, and other regional agencies
- state and federal government agencies
The MUP program is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Our MUP degree is STEM-classified, so international students on an F-1 Visa are eligible to gain up to 3 years of Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation.
What to Expect
Our 2-year program provides a solid foundation in theory and practical skills. And it offers the flexibility to design a concentration around your needs. The curriculum includes five major components totaling 64 credit hours:
- Core Courses
- Flexible Concentrations
- Electives
- Recommended Internship
- Capstone Project or Thesis
What to Expect
How to Apply and What You Need
All MUP students begin in the fall. The MUP program accepts applications once per year through the UIUC Graduate College Application for Admission. This system opens on September 15 and closes on January 15; however, applicants seeking departmental, merit-based financial assistance should submit by December 15. We also require that you upload a resume, statement of purpose, recommendations, and transcripts. International students have additional requirements.
How to Apply and What You Need
Cost and Funding
The university sets new tuition and fee rates each academic year. Learn more at cost.illinois.edu.
Full-time for the MUP program is 16 credit hours. Average in-state tuition is roughly $15,000 per year, and average out-of-state tuition is roughly $31,500 per year. The department runs a merit-based financial recognition program focused on graduate students, with graduate need-based financial aid provided by the university’s Graduate College. Most MUP students are eligible to apply for available Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, and Graduate Assistant positions that provide a stipend and a waiver of tuition and selected fees.
Cost and Funding
Current MUP Students
Get all the information you need about program policies and requirements, such as core courses, concentrations, electives, internship, and capstone project or thesis, and access the handbook and other important documents.