Best colleges for Area Studies in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Dickinson College and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 126, 39 and 23 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Pennsylvania colleges offer Area Studies and award 264 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 2 institutions, 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 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,722 | 39 | 80% | $22,831 | $19,802 |
| 2 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,814 | 3 | 58% | — | $24,982 |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 126 | Not reported |
| 2 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit | 39 | $32,722 |
| 3 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 5 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 8 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 9 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 16 Pennsylvania colleges offering Area Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 13 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 3 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 3 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | Public | 3 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 1 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 1 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Brandywine | Media | Public | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 1 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 1 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (126 graduates a year), Dickinson College (39 graduates a year) and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (23 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Pennsylvania colleges offer Area Studies.
Which Area Studies program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Dickinson College tops the list at $32,722. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Pennsylvania is $100,530 (median $96,010), across about 260 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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