Best colleges for Area Studies in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Cornell University, Columbia University and Barnard College are the top bachelor's Area Studies programs in New York by graduate earnings. Cornell University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,831, College Scorecard. New York University, Columbia University and Cornell University award the most Area Studies degrees in New York: 88, 87 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 New York colleges offer Area Studies and award 399 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 8 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 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,831 | 35 | 95% | $17,613 | $17,625 |
| 2 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,479 | 87 | 96% | $15,315 | $22,486 |
| 3 | Barnard College New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,142 | 27 | 93% | $24,675 | $19,000 |
| 4 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,811 | 16 | 82% | $38,931 | $26,884 |
| 5 | Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,939 | 4 | 77% | $22,374 | $24,250 |
| 6 | University at Albany Albany Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,808 | 7 | 61% | — | $22,305 |
| 7 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,741 | 5 | 91% | $29,107 | — |
| 8 | CUNY Queens College Queens Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $16,733 | 7 | 53% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in New York
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 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 88 | Not reported |
| 2 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 87 | $41,479 |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 35 | $43,831 |
| 4 | Barnard College New York Private not-for-profit | 27 | $34,142 |
| 5 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 6 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit | 16 | $40,811 |
| 7 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Skidmore College Saratoga Springs Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public | 9 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 25 New York colleges offering Area Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 8 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 7 |
| University at Albany | Albany | Public | 7 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 7 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 6 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 5 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York | Public | 4 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | Public | 2 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 2 |
| Houghton University | Houghton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pace University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo | Public | 2 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 1 |
| Empire State University (Degree completion) | Saratoga Springs | 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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
New York University (88 graduates a year), Columbia University (87 graduates a year) and Cornell University (35 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 New York colleges offer Area Studies.
What is the best college for Area Studies in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Cornell University leads among bachelor's Area Studies programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,831, College Scorecard. Columbia University and Barnard College follow. By degrees awarded, New York University is the largest, with 88 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Area Studies program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cornell University tops the list at $43,831. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in New York is $110,880 (median $101,800), across about 1,520 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).
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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