Urban and Regional Planning

URP Scholarships

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning is actively collaborating with friends, donors and alumni to establish scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Several are still in progress; while others, like the Margarita P. McCoy Scholarship, are active.

Students are also encouraged to visit the Bronco Scholarship Portal (BSP), which lists more than 200 university- and college-level scholarships. 

Margarita P. McCoy This scholarship honors the legacy of the late Professor Emerita Margarita P. McCoy by supporting and encouraging students in urban and regional planning. McCoy served as professor and chair from 1976-89. The first woman to chair a university department of planning in the United States, McCoy spent her 50-year career pressing university departments nationwide to open their doors to women and minorities. She was active on several professional and accreditation boards, and served on the La Habra Heights Planning Commission.

Thanks to the generosity of former students, colleagues, friends, and family, this scholarship is made possible through the Margarita P. McCoy Scholarship in Urban Planning Endowment Fund.

Eligibility: Any undergraduate or graduate student with an Urban and Regional Planning major who has completed a successful year of study can apply for the scholarship. Minimum 3.0 GPA in major required. Preference will be given to mature adult, minority and women applicants.

Scholarship Award Amount: Two $3,400 scholarships awarded in 2022.

How To Apply: The Scholarship Committee requests a brief essay of the applicants. The essay should include information on the student's academic qualifications and accomplishments, career goals, and reasons for selecting the candidate. If applicable, the essay should address the challenges that the student overcame or currently experiences as a minority and/or as a woman. We ask that the essay be no longer than two (2) pages and include at least one paragraph on each of the above listed criteria.

Deadline: The scholarship is announced yearly

Basis of Award: The Scholarship Committee, comprised of URP faculty, will select two students to receive the scholarships based on a review of their applications, including academic standing and review of the application essay. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic qualifications, career goals, and accomplishments as minority and/or women.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Gwen Urey at gurey@cpp.edu.

Remembering a planning pioneer: Margarita P. McCoy

The scholarship honors the legacy of Harry Anthony by supporting and encouraging students in urban and regional planning to travel outside of California to independently study urban design and planning issues in one or more major U.S. cities, including but not limited to New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.

Eligibility: This scholarship opportunity is open to any upper division undergraduate or graduate student with an Urban and Regional Planning major who has completed a successful year of study. Minimum 3.0 GPA in major required.

Scholarship Award Amount: One $1,800 scholarship awarded in 2022.

How To Apply: The Scholarship Committee requests a brief essay/proposal of the applicants. The essay/proposal should include information on the student's academic qualifications and accomplishments, career goals, and reasons for selecting the candidate.  It should also describe the proposed travel, provide a budget and timeline, and identify how the travel relates to academic goals (such as a senior project or thesis). We ask that the essay be no longer than two (2) pages in narrative plus the budget, and address the above listed criteria.

Deadline: The scholarship is announced yearly

Donors will be informed of scholarship winners’ identities.  Winners will be encouraged to share with donors a report on their travel.

Earl Gales Jr.The scholarship's purpose is to encourage students from under-  represented groups or socially and economically disadvantaged  backgrounds to enter the profession of architecture or urban and  regional planning.

Eligibility: This scholarship opportunity is open to any undergraduate  or graduate student with an Urban and Regional Planning major or an  Architecture major who has completed a successful year of study.  Minimum 3.0 GPA in major required, and demonstrated financial need.  Preference will be given to students with a demonstrated interest in  supporting or involvement with equity and inclusion efforts in higher  education, including but not limited to participation in cultural centers  such as the African-American Student Center. The scholarship will be  awarded with a preference first for students in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning; however eligible candidates from the Department of Architecture may also be considered.

Scholarship Award Amount: One $1,500 scholarship awarded in 2022.

How To Apply: The Scholarship Committee requests a brief essay of the applicants. The essay should include information on the student's activities relating to enhancing equity and inclusion in higher education, and provide evidence of financial need.  We ask that the essay be no longer than two (2) pages and focus on demonstrating the student's commitment to equity and inclusion.

Deadline: The scholarship is announced yearly

The scholarship's purpose is promote commitment to the planning profession.

Eligibility: This scholarship opportunity is open to any undergraduate or graduate student with an Urban and Regional Planning major who has completed a successful year of study. Minimum 3.0 GPA in major required.

Scholarship Award Amount: One $1,500 scholarship awarded in 2022.

How To Apply: The Scholarship Committee requests a brief essay of the applicants. The essay should include information on the student's activities relating to promoting the planning profession, such as through leadership in the American Planning Student Association or the Graduate Planning Student Association, service to planning related organizations such as the American Planning Association, etc.