Online MPA | Urban Planning Degree

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Learn to Lead City Development with Liberty’s Online Public Administration and Urban Planning Master’s Program

In a time of increased urbanization, there is a need for confident, prepared professionals who can skillfully manage the operations of a city and work towards the municipality’s long-term strategy for growth. Budgets, public relations, economics, legal issues, and politics are all areas that public administrators and urban planners need to be skilled in – and at Liberty, we have designed our Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Urban Planning to help equip you with a foundational knowledge of these areas.

In this degree program, you can work to gain a versatile skill set that can help you pursue several career opportunities. Our master of urban planning degree is offered 100% online in mostly 8-week courses with no set login times, allowing you to earn your degree while remaining committed to the things that matter most – like your job, family, and community.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Urban Planning.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Urban Planning Online Degree?

As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to design an online degree program that can challenge you to grow while respecting your personal commitments. When you choose Liberty for your online urban planning degree, you choose a university with a demonstrated history of helping students achieve their professional goals. Our commitment to our students has remained steadfast, and our passion for your success has never been stronger.

Studying online at Liberty empowers you to earn a career-enhancing credential on your own schedule. With no set login times, no required intensives, and no mandatory visits to campus, you’ll be able to earn a respected master’s degree from the comfort of home and prepare yourself for a rewarding career. Partner with us and take your career to new heights.

What is Urban Planning?

Urban planning is the process by which plans for the growth and regulation of municipalities are born. Urban planners develop and execute strategies to grow cities, improve underdeveloped areas, attract businesses, and foster a unique culture that entices people to stay.

What Will You Study in Our Online Urban Planning Degree?

Our Master of Public Administration in Urban Planning degree online consists of 3 sections: core courses, urban planning courses, and thesis or elective courses.

In the public administration section of this degree, you will study the fundamental principles of public administration, community economic development, and public policy. You will also study political and policy issues that surround public sector budgeting, methods for managing organizations in the public sector, and the legal principles of public administration. In addition, you’ll explore applied research methods for public policy.

In the urban planning specialization, you’ll explore the basics of geographic information systems. You’ll also study geography, urban planning, and how urban planners use geographic information systems when crafting and executing plans for city development. Our public administration and urban planning degree is rounded out by a thesis or an elective track.

If you choose to pursue the thesis track, you’ll begin by selecting and proposing a thesis topic. After your topic has been approved, you’ll complete a research course. Lastly, you will present and defend your thesis before faculty from the Helms School of Government. The thesis track is an excellent option if you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree someday.

If you choose to pursue the elective track, you will be able to customize your degree by selecting 2 graduate-level courses offered by the Helms School of Government. This offers you the freedom to study topics that you’re most passionate about.

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

Request Information

Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our Online Master of Public Administration Degree

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Students without the below coursework on their undergraduate transcript will be required to complete the following classes upon admission to the program:
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply Now

App Fee Waived This Week*

Request Information

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

Choose a Program Level

Choose a program level

Associate

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctorate

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Change

Legal First Name

Enter legal first name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Email

Enter an email address

Phone

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address?Enter it manually instead.

Country

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

City

Enter City

State

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

You will be automatically taken to the application once you submit your request for information

By submitting contact information through this form, I agree that Liberty University and its affiliates may call and/or text me about its offerings by any phone number I have provided and may provide in the future, including any wireless number, using automated technology.

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49595 or 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49595 or 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Chat Request Info Apply

MPA – Master’s in Urban Planning Online Mastering Urban Planning in the Digital Age

Learn to Lead City Development with Liberty’s Online Public Administration and Urban Planning Master’s Program

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Urban Planning Online Degree?

What is Urban Planning?

What Will You Study in Our Online Urban Planning Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online Master of Public Administration Degree

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Are you ready to change your future?

Request Information About a Program

Request Info About Liberty University Online

Choose a Program Level

Select a Field of Study

Select a Program

Next: Contact Info

Legal First Name

Legal Last Name

Email

Phone

Full Address

Country

Street Address

City

State

ZIP/Postal Code

Request Information