Maryland · Area Studies

Best colleges for Area Studies in Maryland

Ranked by graduate earnings

United States Naval Academy, University of Maryland-College Park and Towson University award the most Area Studies degrees in Maryland: 30, 25 and 16 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Maryland colleges offer Area Studies and award 145 degrees and certificates a year in all.

Area Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the research and scholarship of specific geographical, national, or cultural regions. This field encompasses various disciplines, including international relations, history,…

Related programs you can study
Institutions
9
offering CIP 05.01
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
145
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$30,545
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,667
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
71%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,960
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Maryland-College Park
College Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$24,6992589%—$22,250
2University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online
$48,6505233%——
3University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$30,545770%—$26,500

Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Maryland

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1United States Naval Academy
Annapolis Public
30Not reported
2University of Maryland-College Park
College Park Public
25$24,699
3Towson University
Towson Public
16Not reported
4Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
5University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore Public
7$30,545
6Goucher College
Baltimore Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
7St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City Public
1Not reported
8Washington College
Chestertown Private not-for-profit
1Not reported
Show the other 1 Maryland colleges offering Area Studies
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Maryland Global Campus (Online)AdelphiPublic52

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1062).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$84,290
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingActive LearningActive ListeningLearning Strategies

What Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Maryland

Jobs in Maryland
520
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$101,960
median $91,330
Best-paying metro
$98,130
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Related careers

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,960 avg · 520 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Maryland.

Which Maryland colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+

United States Naval Academy (30 graduates a year), University of Maryland-College Park (25 graduates a year) and Towson University (16 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Maryland colleges offer Area Studies.

Which Area Studies program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Maryland-College Park tops the list at $24,699. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Maryland?+

The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Maryland is $101,960 (median $91,330), across about 520 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Area Studies program?+

Area Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the research and scholarship of specific geographical, national, or cultural regions. This field encompasses various disciplines, including international relations, history,…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, speaking, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary?+

The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Related programs in MarylandEthnicArea

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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