The MS in Urban & Regional Planning Program are awarded by the Graduate College. The MS is offered with or without a thesis. Instruction is offered through the School of Planning and Public Affairs. The school also offers several Combined Degree Programs in Urban & Regional Planning.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the Admission Requirements of the Graduate College and the department offering the degree program (review the department's web site or the General Catalog for departmental requirements).

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Tuition and fees vary by degree program and the type of student you are.

Application Deadlines

Applying for Fall Semester is strongly recommended.

  • Fall semester—July 15 ( April 15 for international students); apply by Jan. 15 for priority consideration for financial aid
  • Spring semester—Dec. 1 (Oct. 1 for international students); apply by Oct.1 for priority consideration for financial aid
  • Summer session—not offered
Application Procedures

The graduate application process has two steps

  • You must first submit the online application to the Graduate College and pay the $60 application fee by credit card ($100 for international applicants).
  • Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. A few programs require materials be sent directly to them. However, almost all supplemental material can and should be uploaded from your Admissions Profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access this AFTER you have submitted your application.

Degree Program Supplemental Materials

  • A statement of purpose, including:
    • your purpose in applying for graduate study and your particular area of interest;
    • plans for your professional career; and
    • any additional information that may aid in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study
  • Application for Graduate Awards

Recommendations

The application requirement section of your Profile includes an electronic letter of recommendation feature. You will be asked to give the contact information of your recommenders including their email on your Admissions Profile. The recommender will then get an email giving them instructions on how to upload the recommendation letter and/or form.

  • Three letters of recommendation

Materials to send to Admissions

  • A set of your unofficial academic records/transcripts uploaded on your Admissions Profile. If you are admitted, official transcripts will be required before your enrollment. For international records, all records should bear the original stamp or seal of the institution and the signature of a school official.  Documents not in English must be accompanied by a complete, literal, English translation, certified by the issuing institution.
  • The GRE score is encouraged, but not required.
  • International students may also be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo scores to comply with the university's English Language Proficiency Requirements.
  • Once recommended for admission, international students must send a Financial Statement.
Apply

Apply Online, the $60 application fee ($100 for international students) is payable by Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

Contact

School of Urban and Regional Planning
The University of Iowa
327 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1316 
urban-planning@uiowa.edu
1-319-335-2773
Fax: 319-335-3330

Enrollment Management
The University of Iowa
2900 University Capitol Centre
201 S. Clinton St.
Iowa City, IA 52242
admissions@uiowa.edu
1-319-335-1523