Best colleges for Area Studies in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Harvard University, Brandeis University and Amherst College award the most Area Studies degrees in Massachusetts: 91, 32 and 21 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Massachusetts colleges offer Area Studies and award 257 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,…
Top 6 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,149 | 21 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 2 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,748 | 32 | 86% | $25,074 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,133 | 6 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 4 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,231 | 12 | 92% | $19,292 | $9,525 |
| 5 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,595 | 17 | 94% | $10,747 | — |
| 6 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,878 | 18 | 89% | $17,183 | $19,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 91 | Not reported |
| 2 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 32 | $43,748 |
| 3 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit | 21 | $49,149 |
| 4 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit | 18 | $29,878 |
| 6 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit | 17 | $38,595 |
| 7 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit | 12 | $43,231 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 6 | $44,133 |
ShowHide the other 8 Massachusetts colleges offering Area Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst | Public | 5 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 2 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1062).
Top skills
What Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
Harvard University (91 graduates a year), Brandeis University (32 graduates a year) and Amherst College (21 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Massachusetts colleges offer Area Studies.
Which Area Studies program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Amherst College tops the list at $49,149. 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 Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Massachusetts is $111,240 (median $100,470), across about 610 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).
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.
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