Public information for the Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) program

Student achievement

Master of urban planning students are highly qualified, diverse and career-focused. In fall 2023, among students who are American citizens of permanent residents, 34% were African American, a higher rate of African American representation than the metro area. Many students are working in planning or planning-related jobs and had acquired professional experience before joining the program. However, this share of the student body appears to have decreased in the last few years; it appears that a larger percentage of the student body now comprises students immediately or recently out of college. Using internal metrics, students meet all 18 learning outcome requirements of the PAB (with an achievement rate of 90% or more). Students' own assessments of the learning outcomes through exit surveys also show that they met all the PAB learning outcomes.

A 2017-2018 survey of alumni who graduated after 2011 from the M.U.P. program revealed that 95% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their education. Of those who graduated between fall 2014 and winter 2018, 96% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the program. Ninety-one percent reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the education they received in their chosen specialization.

An ongoing exit survey of graduating students reveals that of those who graduated between winter 2015 and fall 2020, 93% report being very satisfied or satisfied with the program. The exit survey also reveals that over 90% of graduates obtained a planning or planning-related job within one year of graduating.

Graduates work in a variety of institutions. Of the graduates between 2011 and 2018, 30% worked with local governments, 7% with counties or regional authorities, 3% with state or federal agencies, 30% with the private sector, 27% with the not-for-profit sector and 3% in higher education or research.

To maintain this profile of excellence, the program admits highly qualified students who show promise to be the urban leaders of tomorrow. Graduates continue to leave their mark on the profession, progressing through a series of planning and planning-related jobs in governments, the private sector and the not-for-profit sectors in Detroit, surrounding suburbs, nationally and Canada. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a larger percentage of students are pursuing opportunities outside of Metro Detroit when compared to the past.

2023-2024 tuition and fees

Student retention rate

Student graduation rate

Number of degrees awarded

AICP Certification

Percentage, based on the number who take the AICP exam, of master's graduates who pass the AICP exam within 3 years of graduation.

Employment

Percentage of full-time graduates obtaining professional planning, planning-related or other positions within 12 months of graduation.