Best colleges for Area Studies in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Gustavus Adolphus College, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Carleton College award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Minnesota: 12, 11 and 9 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Minnesota colleges offer Area Studies and award 46 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 institution, 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 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,569 | 8 | 84% | $18,124 | $21,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Minnesota
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 3 | Carleton College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 4 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 8 | $35,569 |
| 5 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 1 | Not reported |
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 Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
Gustavus Adolphus College (12 graduates a year), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (11 graduates a year) and Carleton College (9 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Minnesota colleges offer Area Studies.
How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Minnesota is $93,830 (median $81,580), across about 280 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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