Public Information

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

MURP graduates are very well placed upon graduation as evidenced by the high employment rate.

2025-2026 Tuition & Fees

A complete breakdown of the Graduate Student Tuition and Fees can be viewed on the University’s Regular Tuition Schedule webpage.

Tuition & Fees (per Full Time Academic Year)

• In State Residents per full-time academic year: $15,600
• Out of State Residents, per full-time academic year: $33,648

Note: Three 3-credit hour courses (or 8 credit hours, minimum) are considered full-time for graduate students.

Student Retention Rate

Percentage of students who began studies in Academic Year 2024-25 and continued into Fall 2025: 91%

Student Graduation Rate

Percentage of students graduating within 4 years, entering class of 2021: 75%

Number of Degrees Awarded

Number of degrees awarded for the 2024-2025 Academic Year: 12

AICP Certification

Percentage of master’s graduates taking the AICP exam within 3 years who pass, graduating class of 2021: 100%

Employment Rate

Percentage of all graduates obtaining professional planning, planning-related, or other positions within 12 months of graduation, graduating class of 2024: 91%

Student Achievement

Employer Survey

In 2019, the DURP ʻOhana, a Chapter of the University of Hawaii Alumni Association, surveyed local firms/organizations that employ Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) graduates. The survey, which was sent to 48 employers (public, private, and non-profit), had a 33% response rate. It assessed the skills and attributes of DURP graduates on a scale from outstanding (highest) to need to improve (lowest) to examine how well the master’s degree program is aligned with the needs of local firms/organizations. Some of the survey results are presented below:

Satisfaction with DURP graduates employed: 100% reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” 

Knowledge of general planning principles: 75% responded “good” or “very good” and 6% said “outstanding”

Ability to apply knowledge and skills to practice: 69% responded “good” or “very good” and 19% said “outstanding”

Writing and technical skills: 62% responded “good” or “very good” and 19% said “outstanding”

Communication skills: 81% responded “good” or “very good” and 19% said “outstanding”

Teamwork: 81% responded “good” or “very good” and 12% said “outstanding”

Motivation to seek professional development opportunities: 69% responded “good” or “very good” and 19% said “outstanding”

Client Assessment of Practicum Projects

The planning practicum has been a successful vehicle for engaging students in teamwork to provide services valued by community groups and organizations, policy-making bodies, and regulatory and planning agencies. It plays a key role in keeping faculty and students attuned to planning issues in Hawai‘i and the Asia-Pacific region. Six practicum projects completed between Fall 2018 and Spring 2025 were assessed by their respective clients using a client assessment form. Clients rated their satisfaction on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the highest). On average, students received the following scores:

Overall team performance: 4.3

Professionalism: 4.7

Quality of final report and presentation: 4.4

Responsiveness to feedback: 4.5

Understanding of key issues: 4.5

Quality and feasibility of recommendations: 3.8

Technical aspects of the work undertaken: 4.0

Student Awards

Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship (2025)
This program provides support to outstanding scholars, researchers, and professionals in the field by offering the opportunity to conduct research in Japan.
Recipient: Sandy Jiyoon Kim, Ph.D. Candidate

Ping Yip and Jong Hung Chan Award (2025)
This campus-wide scholarship is awarded to an individual who exemplifies moral character, strength, and integrity through personal or public behavior.
Recipient: Ernest Bethe IV, MURP Student

PBR Student Scholarship (2025)
An award endowed by PBR Hawaiʻi for active engagement in the planning community and for a strong commitment to place-based planning.
Recipient: Julianne Luong, MURP Student

Summer Institute on Global Indigeneities — SIGI (2024)
SIGI, annually hosted by the University of Washington, Seattle, enables graduate students with interdisciplinary and decolonial research interests gain not only professional tools, but personal support. UH Mānoa’s participation in the Summer Institute on Global Indigeneities (SIGI) is coordinated through and supported with scholarships by Hui ʻĀina Pilipili, the Native Hawaiian initiative of the College of Social Sciences.
Recipient: Kammie Tavares, Ph.D. Student, one of three students chosen to represent UH Mānoa

Additional Affordable Rental Unit (ARU) Design Competition hosted by Better Block Hawaiʻi in partnership with the County of Kauaʻi and the Rice Street Business Association (2023)

Winners: Mark Krzyzanowski and Kammie Tavares, Ph.D. Students

Project: “E Hoʻi Kākou i Kauhale”

APA Hawai‘i Chapter Student Project Award (2023)

Project: Waimānalo Food System: Moving Towards a Healthy Ahupua‘a

Client: Ke Kula Nui O Waimānalo

Student Team: Reyhanillo Andi Kasim, Tamera Blankenship, Heather Davis, Pablo Gonzalez, Sydney Kramer, Keane Miyamoto, Kiralee Ramos, Niegel Rozet, Megan Russell, Ty Shiramizu, Rainbow Uli‘i, Shaun Wriston

Faculty Advisor: Priyam Das; Teaching Assistant: Sandy Jiyoon Kim

P.E.O. Scholar Award 2022-23

The P.E.O. Scholar Awards was established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university.

Recipient: Layla Kilolu, Ph.D. Student. Layla was one of the 100 women out of 775 nominees selected to receive $20,000.

John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows (2022)

This Fellowship provides educational and professional experience to graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and national policy affecting these. The fellows are placed in federal government offices in Washington, D.C. for one year.

Recipient: Roberto Porro, Ph.D. Candidate