Public Information
One requirement of our program accreditation process is that we provide public information concerning the performance of our students and our program. The following information addresses that requirement, drawing on data we collect at the program level each year.
Student Achievement – Comprehensive Exam/Thesis
We define student achievement as the demonstration of competence in applying knowledge and skills gained through academic work. Such competence is evident both in and beyond the classroom. Traditional measures of student achievement include degree completion rates, pass rates of comprehensive exams, and pass rates for the AICP exam. In addition to these traditional measures, we also place a high premium on measures that capture a student's success in interacting with the profession.
Measures include the percentage of eligible students employed in an internship while a student, the number of students who present at local, state, and national professional organization meetings (e.g. American Planning Association), the number of individual students or student teams that win awards for their project-oriented work, and post-graduate employment rates in the field.
Virtually all domestic students who want an internship are able to be placed in a position that is part-time during the academic year and full-time during the summer. Placement is more challenging for international students. Assistance is provided to students studying on an F1 visa to help place them in internships that qualify under the Curricular Practical Training provisions of their visa.
As a sampling of recent student achievements, KU UBPL students won New Horizon Team Awards from the Kansas Chapter of the APA in 2014 and 2015, five students had posters at the 2015 National APA conference, and a KU UBPL student was a Helene M. Overly Scholarship recipient in 2015 from the WTS-Kansas City.
Graduation Year | # of Students Taking Exam/ Writing a Thesis |
First Attempt Passage Rate/ |
2017 | 13 / 2 | 100%/100% |
2016 | 19 / 2 | 100% / 100% |
2015 | 16 / 0 | 100% / n/a |
2014 | 10 / 0 | 90% / n/a |
2013 | 16 / 1 | 88% / 100% |
2012 | 18 / 0 | 100% / n/a |
Tuition and Fees
2017-18 Academic Year | Tuition | Fees | Total |
In-state: | $11,011 | $916 | $11,927 |
Out-of-state: | $24,025 | $910 | $24,935 |
Student Retention and Graduation Rates
Academic Year | Number Enrolled | Retention Rate | Graduated within 4 Years | Graduation Rate * |
2016-2017 | 15 | 93% | na | na |
2015-2016 | 19 | 95% | 15 * | 79% * |
2014-2015 | 23 | 91% | 21@ | 91% @ |
2013-2014 | 21 | 95% | 23 | 96% |
2012-2013 | 15 | 80% | 12 | 80% |
2011-2012 | 19 | 79% | 15 | 79% |
2010-2011 | 22 | 91% | 20 | 91% |
* 2-year graduation; some joint-degree program students still in progress
@ 3-year graduation; some joint-degree program students still in progress
Number of Degrees Awarded: 2012 - 18; 2013 - 17; 2014 - 11, 2015 - 19
AICP Exam Pass Rate
This data shows the number and percentage of our graduates who take and pass the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam within three years of completing our program. We update this data annually based on information provided by AICP.
Graduation Year |
# of Students Taking AICP Exam within 3 Years |
% of Students Who Pass AICP Exam within 3 Years |
2013 | 2 | 100% |
2012 | 4 | 100% |
2011 | 2 | 50% |
2010 | 2 | 100% |
2009 | 2 | n/a |
2008 | 5 | 100% |
Employment Rate
These data show the percentage of our graduates who secure a job in planning or planning-related positions within one year of graduation. Students who choose to pursue an additional degree (e.g. a Ph.D.) after graduation are also shown here.
Graduation Year |
# of Graduates |
Planning/Planning-Related Job |
Advanced Degree |
2017 | 15 | 89% * | 6% |
2016 | 21 | 100%@ | 5% |
2015 | 16 | 88% @ | 6% |
2014 | 10 | 60% | 10% |
2013 | 17 | 83% | 6% |
2012 | 18 | 89% | ? |
* for students that remained in the United States, as of 6 months of graduation
@ for students that remained in the United States