Best colleges for Area Studies in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in North Carolina: 107, 47 and 8 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 North Carolina colleges offer Area Studies and award 175 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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,955 | 107 | 91% | — | $13,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in North Carolina
Top 6 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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 107 | $31,955 |
| 2 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 4 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 6 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 2 | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (107 graduates a year), Duke University (47 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (8 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 North Carolina colleges offer Area Studies.
Which Area Studies program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops the list at $31,955. 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 North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in North Carolina is $76,050 (median $66,470), across about 590 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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