Hunter Urban Policy and Planning

What Hunter Urban Policy and Planning does

Hunter Urban Policy and Planning (UPP) is an academic department within the School of Arts and Sciences at Hunter College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY). Founded in 1965 by advocacy planner Paul Davidoff, the department offers four degree programs: a 48-credit in-person Master of Urban Planning (PAB-accredited), a 100% synchronous online Master of Urban Planning (PAB accreditation pending), a 36-credit Master of Science in Urban Policy and Leadership (NASPAA-accredited), and a B.A. in Urban Studies. The MUP curriculum covers land use, housing, transportation, sustainability, urban informatics, and economic development, anchored by a 6-credit Urban Planning Studio capstone with real-world clients. The department's core 'technology' is its teaching and credentialing infrastructure, including GIS, urban data analysis, qualitative research methods, and synchronous online video delivery for the MUP Online, supported by small classes of 10–18 students.

The business model is that of a public university academic unit: tuition is the primary discretionary revenue stream, with published MUP Online pricing of $22,560 (in-state, 48 credits at $470/credit) and $27,120 (out-of-state, 48 credits at $565/credit), plus in-person MUP and MSUPL tuition varying by residency and enrollment status. Additional revenue comes from state appropriations through CUNY, federal financial aid (FAFSA-administered grants, loans, and work-study), and philanthropic donations that fund scholarships, guest speakers, and student programming. Distribution is multi-channel: Hunter College's graduate admissions portal for in-person programs, a dedicated MUP Online portal, evening classes for working students, CUNY cross-campus enrollment (e-permit), and the École d'Urbanisme de Paris exchange. Marketing relies on a website, LinkedIn and Instagram presence, open houses, and the GUPPA student organization.

Hunter UPP serves graduate students seeking accredited urban planning credentials (with concentrations in housing, transportation, sustainability, urban informatics, and economic development), working professionals pursuing the MUP Online or MSUPL, and undergraduates in urban studies. The customer base is anchored in the New York City region — with NYC Department of City Planning, NYC DOT, and MTA repeatedly cited as primary employers — but is being intentionally diversified nationally and internationally through the online program. There are no external investors, and the department operates under CUNY governance with no fundraising or M&A history.

Name

Hunter Urban Policy and Planning

Legal name

Hunter Urban Policy & Planning at Hunter College, City University of New York

Website

https://hunterurban.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hunter Urban Policy & Planning is an academic department at Hunter College, CUNY, founded in 1965. It offers PAB- and NASPAA-accredited graduate programs in urban planning and policy leadership plus an undergraduate urban studies degree, serving students pursuing careers in public, private, and nonprofit urban sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education in Urban Planning and Policy

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Urban planning education
• Graduate planning programs
• Policy leadership degrees
• Urban studies undergraduate
• Accredited master planning

Headquarters

HQ city

New York, NY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Graduate Tuition (In-State): Tuition revenue from in-state graduate students enrolled in the MUP, MUP Online, and MSUPL programs. In-state MUP Online costs $22,560 total for the 48-credit degree ($470/credit). Rates vary by enrollment status and residency per Hunter College tuition schedules.
2. Graduate Tuition (Out-of-State): Tuition revenue from out-of-state graduate students. Out-of-state MUP Online costs $27,120 total for 48 credits ($565/credit). Out-of-state students may qualify for in-state tuition after one year of New York State residence.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Giving: The department relies on donor contributions to fund general operating expenses (events, guest speakers, student lounge upgrades), and scholarships that help recruit top candidates and compete with private institutions offering larger financial packages.
4. Financial Aid (Federal Grants, Loans, Work-Study): Matriculated students access federal financial aid including grants, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and work-study. The first step is completing the FAFSA. Hunter UPP also periodically offers research fellowships and assistantships identified through the admissions process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hunter Urban Policy and Planning is an academic department within Hunter College (CUNY) that delivers accredited graduate and undergraduate degree programs in urban planning, urban policy, and urban studies. The portfolio includes a 48-credit PAB-accredited Master of Urban Planning (in-person and online), a 36-credit NASPAA-accredited Master of Science in Urban Policy and Leadership, and a B.A. in Urban Studies, combining lecture instruction with a studio capstone, GIS/spatial analysis, and community-based projects.

Product overview

Hunter Urban Policy & Planning (UPP) is an academic department within the School of Arts and Sciences at Hunter College offering a portfolio of four degree programs. The department's offerings include two graduate planning degrees (an in-person and online Master of Urban Planning) and two policy-focused degrees (a Master of Science in Urban Policy & Leadership and a B.A. in Urban Studies). All programs combine theory and practice, with the MUP being PAB-accredited and the MSUPL being NASPAA-accredited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Urban Planning (MUP) A 48-credit graduate degree program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) that trains professional urban planners. Offers concentrations in housing, transportation, sustainability, urban informatics, and economic development, and culminates in a 6-credit community-based planning studio capstone with real-world clients. Designed for students preparing for careers in public, private, and non-profit planning sectors.
• Master of Urban Planning Online A 100% synchronous online delivery of the MUP curriculum spanning 48 credits, with three concentrations (general planning, urban informatics and visualization, and built environment). Total tuition is $22,560 for in-state and $27,120 for out-of-state students; an in-person NYC summer orientation is required. Targets remote and working professionals.
• Master of Science in Urban Policy & Leadership (MSUPL) A 36-credit graduate program accredited by NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) that prepares leaders for communities, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. Offers concentrations in Public Policy, Non-Profits, and Neighborhood Development, and is taught by Professor Jill Simone Gross as Director of the Graduate Program in Urban Policy and Leadership.
• B.A. Urban Studies An undergraduate Bachelor of Arts program providing a multi-disciplinary understanding of contemporary cities using New York City as an urban laboratory. Prepares students for careers in public service, urban planning, social work, municipal budgeting, advocacy, real estate, economic development, law, business, and journalism. Directed by Associate Professor Owen Gutfreund for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Quantifiable outcome

• MUP program reaccredited by PAB for 7 years in 2024, noting 'many areas of excellence'
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brooklyn Law SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn Law School and Hunter College UPP offer a dual-degree MUP/J.D. program. Students must apply to and be admitted by both programs. Completing the programs jointly reduces the overall course burden through cross-credited coursework.
• École d'Urbanisme de ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe department participates in an exchange program with France's leading urbanism school (École d'Urbanisme de Paris). Up to four students may go in the fall semester, studying at Hunter's tuition rate. The program is conducted in English. This is a student exchange — not a degree partnership.
• Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program (Roosevelt House)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Roosevelt House offers events, fellowships, and courses related to transportation planning. This provides students with specialized research and professional development opportunities in transportation policy.
• Roosevelt House (Public Policy Institute at Hunter College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Studies students can concurrently pursue an 18-credit undergraduate minor in Public Policy at Roosevelt House, with an option to receive a Certificate in Public Policy (27 credits total). This allows students to interact with policy experts and practitioners.
• JFEW (Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women)minorOthersThe JFEW scholarship is a two-year program for qualified Urban Studies students, providing tuition assistance, mentorship, a paid summer internship in New York, a multi-day service trip outside NYC, dedicated workshops, and invitations to special events at Hunter College.
• Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)coreOthersThe department is currently seeking accreditation for the MUP online program from the Planning Accreditation Board through an expedited pathway. The in-person MUP is already PAB-accredited.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NYU Wagner School of Public Service: NYU Wagner offers an urban planning specialization alongside public administration and policy degrees, accredited by NASPAA. Comparable as an NYC-based graduate public policy/planning program with overlapping career outcomes and applicant pools.
• The New School for Design and Urban Studies: The New School offers urban planning and policy-focused graduate programs within Parsons and other schools. Comparable as an NYC graduate urban studies program competing for similar mission-driven students.
• Pratt Institute Urban and Community Planning: Pratt offers a PAB-accredited Master of Science in Urban and Community Planning in Brooklyn. Closely comparable as a NYC-area accredited graduate planning program targeting similar students and employer pipelines.
• Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy: Rutgers Bloustein offers PAB-accredited planning and NASPAA-accredited public policy graduate programs in New Jersey. Comparable as a public university graduate planning/policy program in the broader NYC metro labor market.
• Columbia University GSAPP Urban Planning: Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation offers a PAB-accredited MS in Urban Planning, located in NYC. Directly comparable as a graduate urban planning program in the same geography with shared employer pipeline.

Regional players

• CUNY Graduate Center: The CUNY Graduate Center offers doctoral and master's programs across disciplines and shares the CUNY student permit system used by Hunter UPP students. Comparable as a sibling CUNY graduate institution, particularly for cross-registration via e-permit.

Broad incumbents

• University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design: Penn's urban planning program within Weitzman is PAB-accredited and draws on interdisciplinary design and policy strengths. Comparable as a top-tier, well-resourced graduate planning program on the East Coast.
• Syracuse University Maxwell School: Maxwell is a nationally prominent NASPAA-accredited public policy program with a long-standing urban planning footprint. Comparable as an established graduate public policy/planning institution though not PAB-accredited.
• MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning: MIT DUSP is a leading research-oriented urban planning graduate program. Comparable as a premier PAB-accredited graduate planning program, though operating at vastly larger scale and prestige.
• Cornell University Department of City and Regional Planning: Cornell's AAP department offers a PAB-accredited MRP with regional planning focus. Comparable as a research-university graduate planning program at significantly higher price point and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hunteruap
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HunterCollegeUPP/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Urban-Affairs-and-Planning-UAP-at-Hunter-College/145831002127897
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hunter-urban
• Instagraminstagram.com/hunterurbanlens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hunter Urban Policy and Planning