MS Urban Planning Admissions & Cost

Who's ready to shape a more resilient future for cities and regions? You are.

Prospective students are required to submit application materials directly to the University of Arizona Graduate College. We are here to help you through the process.

Funding may be available for qualified students.

From the West? Get Arizona Resident Tuition Pricing for the MS Urban Planning!

If you're from one of 15 Western states, you're now eligible for Arizona resident tuition pricing for the Master of Science in Urban Planning through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP).

Learn More About This New Pricing Program

CAPLA Graduate Applications Open September 1

Applications for College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture graduate programs will open for the 2024-2025 school year on September 1.

Until then, prepare your application materials per program requirements. We look forward to reviewing your application!


Admissions Requirements

Students applying to the program must meet University of Arizona Graduate College admissions standards.

  • Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited United States college or university, or equivalent in a non-US institution of higher learning. The undergraduate degree can be in any field of study. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 90 graded quarter credit hours or last 60 graded semester credit hours is required.
  • Applicants who do not meet the required 3.0 GPA can apply as Graduate Non-Degree Seeking. After completion of 12 consecutive semester units of 500-level courses, and a 3.0 GPA or higher, applicants can apply as graduate degree seeking using their graduate GPA.
  • International students must demonstrate English language proficiency and submit scores from the TOEFL exam.

Application Process

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required to apply to the MS Urban Planning.

Prospective students must submit application materials directly to the University of Arizona Graduate College. Apply online using GradApp, the Graduate College's online admissions application.

The nonrefundable application fee for degree-seeking and certificate-seeking applications is $90, and for non-degree-seeking applications is $45. Learn more about graduate application fees.

All applicants must upload the following documents using PDF format:

Personal Statement: Please submit a two to three page statement of purpose that articulates your interest and motivations for seeking graduate study in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.

Resume or CV: Please include a resume or CV outlining your academic and professional background.

Letters of Recommendation: Please provide the names and email addresses of three people who can speak to your potential for success in graduate studies. A combination of academic and professional recommendations is preferred.

Supplemental materials (optional): Upload supplemental materials in PDF format, which may include various forms of creative work including drawings or paintings, graphic design, creative writing, woodwork, designs of outdoor/indoor spaces, photography, sculpture, etc.

Transcripts: Please include unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework. If not in English, please be sure to include English translations in addition to the original. Upon admission, you are required to submit official copies of all transcripts to the University of Arizona Graduate College. Please view the Graduate College website for more information on transcript requirements.

International students must also provide:

Financial Guarantee: Applicants must submit a Financial Guarantee form certifying they have sufficient U.S. funds for their first year of education. If family members are to accompany the student, additional funds are required. If the student receives a fellowship or an assistantship, the amount of the award will constitute part of the financial guarantee.

Proof of English Language Proficiency: TOEFL scores are required of applicants who speak English as a second language unless they have completed at least two years of full time academic study in the United States, English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or other official English speaking countries at an accredited institution, culminating in the receipt of a bachelors or graduate degree that is awarded within two years of the term of enrollment.

Students must have 48 graded semester hours of upper division, undergraduate work or 30 graded semester hours of graduate work. If the student has been residing outside the English speaking country for more than 2 years since completing studies and earning a degree, he or she will be required to submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores as part of the admissions process. TOEFL results are valid for two years only.

Only scores of 79 or greater on the TOEFL (with a minimum score of 26 required for the Speaking section) and 7 or greater on the ILETS are acceptable. The Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) at The University of Arizona offers full-time English-language training for students who have not attained an acceptable score on their TOEFL.

Apply Now

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Peace Corps

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The University of Arizona offers Coverdell Fellowships to many returned Peace Corps volunteers who are enrolled in a graduate program, including the MS Urban Planning. Coverdell Fellows find a robust Peace Corps community at the university and in Tucson, and many are CAPLA alumni. View more information about the program, including scholarships:

University of Arizona Coverdell Fellowships

TOURS & INFORMATION SESSIONS

CAPLA’s facilities include dedicated studio space, world-class materials and model-building laboratories and unique spaces inside and outside—including the award-winning Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory, which features five biomes of the Sonoran desert as well as active and passive water harvesting systems. This oasis is a place for students to showcase their work or just hang out. Join us in person or virtually.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

After their first full year in the program, students are eligible for a number of CAPLA-specific scholarships.

The university also offers other scholarship and financial aid opportunities for incoming and returning students.

CAPLA also offers WRGP pricing for eligible incoming and returning students.

Students may be eligible for graduate research and teaching assistantships, though they are not typically awarded in the first semester of the program.

You’re ready to shape a more resilient future for cities and regions.

Begin your application now:

Apply Now