City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Planning programs nationally cluster around $44,000 in first-year earnings, and this Bachelor's degree at UNH appears to track right at that national norm. With estimated debt around $25,000, graduates would face manageable monthly payments of roughly $280—about 7.6% of their gross income—which falls comfortably within the "affordable" range for education debt.

The 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests reasonable balance, though planning careers often build momentum gradually rather than commanding high starting salaries. Urban and regional planners typically work in government agencies or consulting firms where pay scales are structured and predictable, if not particularly lucrative early on. The field values practical experience and professional credentials (like AICP certification), meaning your child's trajectory will depend heavily on internships, networking, and geographic flexibility after graduation.

The caveat here is that these figures reflect what peer programs typically produce nationwide, not UNH's specific track record with planning graduates. With only 58 schools nationally offering this Bachelor's and limited data transparency, you're betting on a specialized program without the usual outcome verification. If your child is committed to planning as a career—particularly interested in New England's development challenges—this estimated financial picture isn't alarming. But if they're still exploring options, programs with clearer outcome data might offer more certainty about what $25,000 in debt will actually buy.