MS Urban Planning Admissions & Cost

Applications for the 2025-2026 Academic Year Open September 1.

Prospective students are encouraged to review the admission and application requirements below. Once you are ready to apply, please complete your online application through GradApp. 

If you have any questions, consider attending one of our information sessions or contact our graduate programs coordinator. 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

The non-refundable application fee for the MS Urban Planning program is $90. Please note that we do not provide application fee waivers. 

Deadline 1: January 16 (for full consideration of college/departmental financial support)
Deadline 2: February 19
Deadline 3: March 15*

After March 15, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, depending on program capacity, until one month before the start of the fall semester. 

International applications must be submitted by June 1 to meet the I-20 request deadline of July 1. To allow time for I-20 and visa processing, we recommend international applicants meet the March 15 deadline.

APPLY NOW

PROGRAM COST

IN-STATE AND WRGP TUITION AND FEES
Per semester (7+ units)
$7,369 tuition + $1,500 program fees + $59 university fees

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION AND FEES
Per semester (7+ units)
$16,996 + $1,500 program fees + $59 university fees

Tuition and fees subject to change.

View Detailed Cost Information

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE REQUIREMENT

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

*Applicants that do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, may pursue admission in the future by enrolling in 6 to 12 units as a Graduate Non-Degree Seeking student. For more information, please contact capla-grad@arizona.edu.

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

Prospective MS Urban Planning students must apply online using GradApp. Applications will not be evaluated until all application material has been submitted in GradApp and the application fee has been paid. The non-refundable application fee for the MA program is $90. Please note that we do not provide application fee waivers. 

All applicants must upload the following documents using PDF format:

Statement of Purpose: 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.

Transcripts: Please include unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended. 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 by the end of your first semester.

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.

While CAPLA cannot guarantee funding through the MS Arch program, students are encouraged to apply for additional opportunities.

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. Please refer to Scholarships & Financial Aid for more information.

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

Graduate research and teaching assistantships may be available for students, but these are usually not awarded in the first semester of the program. Please refrain from contacting faculty and staff to solicit these opportunities during the application process.

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

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