About PhD Program,
The Master of City and Regional Planning’s (MCRP) outstanding faculty help students become professionals that understand and resolve complex urban planning problems.
The curriculum gives students a broad understanding of the urban and regional environment and a foundation of skills needed to plan for today’s regions and cities.
The degree is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) and is consistently ranked in the top ten in the nation by Planetizen.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants typically demonstrate academic performance that meets or exceeds the following criteria:
A 3.0-4.0 undergraduate GPA and a 3.5 – 4.0 master’s degree GPA if applicable.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores of 150 for Verbal Reasoning, 150 for Quantitative Reasoning, and 4.0 Analytical Writing, if they elect to submit GRE scores.
TOEFL iBT Scores, if applicable, with a minimum of 100 or comparable IELTS score.
We look for master’s degree students who will successfully advance the quality of life in communities through planning work after graduation. Excellence in prior academic work is essential, and priority is given to applicants who have demonstrated effectiveness as leaders, analysts and/or designers in previous paid or volunteer settings.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The total cost of the program depends on a number of factors: whether a student completes the program full-time or part-time, whether they are eligible for in-state tuition or pay non-resident tuition, whether students are exempt or not from health insurance fees, and what housing, personal and other expenses a student incurs.
Residents of 15 southern US states other than Georgia are potentially eligible for in-state tuition for study toward city planning graduate degrees at Georgia Tech through the Academic Common Market
Current tuition and fee information is available on the Bursar’s website and current year costs estimates that include average housing, meal plan, books, personal, travel and other expenses are posted on the office of Scholarships & Financial Aid website.
International students’ total annual cost for the 2023-2024 academic year is projected to be $53,402 – including tuition, fees, cost of living and miscellaneous related expenses. The estimate for the 2024-2025 academic year is expected to be available for publication in May 2024.
Financial Aid:
The School of City and Regional Planning and Georgia Tech provide a range of financial aid programs to lower the education costs for our students. To learn about the various merit-based and need-based financial aid options, as well as obtain information about relevant internal and external fellowship and educational loan programs, please visit SCaRPs financial aid page.
All MCRP applicants who submit applications by the January 15 priority application deadline are automatically considered for merit-based aid, which is given primarily in the form of fellowships and graduate research or teaching assistantships.
Application Requirement,
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Three letters of recommendation.
Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher learning.
Submitting Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores is optional yet encouraged, especially if an applicant wants to be considered for merit-based financial aid. If an applicant decides not to submit GRE scores they will be asked to make a case as to how their record demonstrates their strengths and proficiencies in quantitative, verbal, and analytic reasoning.
Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100 or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7.5. For complete outline of the English proficiency requirement and ways to get exemptions from testing, please see https://grad.gatech.edu/english-proficiency
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
fee for domestic applicants is $95 per application.
