Best institutions to study Area
Compare 8 U.S. colleges offering Area by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 6 states.
About Area programs
The Area program, officially titled 'Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other,' is an interdisciplinary field that explores various geographical, national, and cultural regions. This program is designed for students interested in understanding complex social dynamics and cultural interactions across different societies.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics like race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, preparing graduates for a diverse range of careers.
Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
Offered across 6 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizonalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 2 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 2 | — | — |
| New Yorklimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Area program can pursue careers in academia, research, and various sectors that require expertise in cultural and social analysis. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Area
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 05.99.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 05.99 (Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1062 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Area programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Concentrations within Area
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, OtherCIP 05.9999
Any instructional program in area, ethnic, cultural, gender, or group studies not listed above.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Area program?+
The program focuses on interdisciplinary studies related to geographical, national, and cultural regions.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and cultural analysis.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in academia, research, and other sectors requiring cultural expertise.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Area?+
Area maps to CIP 05.99 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card