Best colleges for Area Studies
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Area Studies by graduate earnings are Yale University ($55,618), William & Mary ($53,779) and University of California-Berkeley ($50,728), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Yale University (New Haven, CT): $55,618, 77 graduates a year
- William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA): $53,779, 27 graduates a year
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): $50,728, 54 graduates a year
- Miami University - Oxford (Oxford, OH): $50,637, 20 graduates a year
- Amherst College (Amherst, MA): $49,149, 21 graduates a year
Compare 338 U.S. colleges offering Area Studies by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Area Studies programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,280 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 05.01 and the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC).
About Area Studies programs
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, anthropology, and cultural studies, making it ideal for students interested in understanding diverse cultures and societies.
Students in Area Studies develop critical skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework often includes topics related to race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, providing a well-rounded education in both the social sciences and humanities.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Yale University New Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,618 | 77 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 2 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,779 | 27 | 89% | — | $15,250 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,728 | 54 | 93% | — | $14,972 |
| 4 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,637 | 20 | 80% | — | $20,552 |
| 5 | Amherst College Amherst, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,149 | 21 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 6 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,565 | 38 | 96% | $14,689 | $16,520 |
| 7 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,315 | 23 | 95% | $15,454 | $24,000 |
| 8 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,096 | 46 | 75% | — | $24,250 |
| 9 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,831 | 35 | 95% | $17,613 | $17,625 |
| 10 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,748 | 32 | 86% | $25,074 | $26,000 |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,668 | 109 | 85% | — | $14,922 |
| 12 | Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,479 | 87 | 96% | $15,315 | $22,486 |
| 13 | Brown University Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,165 | 44 | 96% | $14,644 | $12,000 |
| 14 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,019 | 36 | 81% | $13,712 | $10,236 |
| 15 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,557 | 30 | 63% | — | $23,500 |
| 16 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,304 | 21 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,250 |
| 17 | Barnard College New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,142 | 27 | 93% | $24,675 | $19,000 |
| 18 | Dickinson College Carlisle, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,722 | 39 | 80% | $22,831 | $19,802 |
| 19 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,064 | 25 | 79% | — | $20,125 |
| 20 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,955 | 107 | 91% | — | $13,000 |
| 21 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,894 | 23 | 59% | — | $13,000 |
| 22 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,480 | 40 | 68% | — | $24,500 |
| 23 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,716 | 33 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 24 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,746 | 77 | 89% | — | $22,215 |
| 25 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,591 | 34 | 69% | — | $15,697 |
Specializations within Area Studies
29 of the 37 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 05.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- American/CIP 05.0102
United States Studies/ Civilization 1,027 graduates / yr120 institutions36 states - Regional Studies (U.S.CIP 05.0122partial data783 graduates / yr8 institutions8 states
- Asian Studies/CIP 05.0103
Civilization 549 graduates / yr94 institutions36 states - Area StudiesCIP 05.0199505 graduates / yr65 institutions22 states
- East Asian StudiesCIP 05.0104446 graduates / yr62 institutions27 states
- Latin American StudiesCIP 05.0107365 graduates / yr86 institutions29 states
- Near and Middle Eastern StudiesCIP 05.0108261 graduates / yr46 institutions22 states
- African StudiesCIP 05.0101171 graduates / yr45 institutions22 states
- European Studies/CIP 05.0106
Civilization 161 graduates / yr27 institutions19 states - Russian StudiesCIP 05.011081 graduates / yr30 institutions19 states
- French StudiesCIP 05.012478 graduates / yr26 institutions17 states
- RussianCIP 05.010569 graduates / yr12 institutions7 states
- Latin American and Caribbean StudiesCIP 05.013466 graduates / yr18 institutions13 states
- Japanese StudiesCIP 05.012756 graduates / yr15 institutions12 states
- Italian StudiesCIP 05.012645 graduates / yr18 institutions13 states
- Spanish and Iberian StudiesCIP 05.0130partial data43 graduates / yr7 institutions7 states
- Western European StudiesCIP 05.0114partial data40 graduates / yr5 institutions3 states
- German StudiesCIP 05.012537 graduates / yr17 institutions14 states
- Chinese StudiesCIP 05.012329 graduates / yr12 institutions11 states
- Pacific Area/CIP 05.0109
Pacific Rim Studies partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions4 states - Scandinavian StudiesCIP 05.0111partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions4 states
- South Asian StudiesCIP 05.0112partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions4 states
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian StudiesCIP 05.0120limited data14 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Southeast Asian StudiesCIP 05.0113partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- Slavic StudiesCIP 05.0118limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Appalachian StudiesCIP 05.0135New in CIP 2020limited data8 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Korean StudiesCIP 05.0128limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Irish StudiesCIP 05.0133limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Canadian StudiesCIP 05.0115limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Show all 37 codes (8 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Balkans Studies05.0116
- Baltic Studies05.0117
- Caribbean Studies05.0119
- Commonwealth Studies05.0121
- Polish Studies05.0129
- Tibetan Studies05.0131
- Ukraine Studies05.0132
- Arctic Studies05.0136
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 51 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Area Studies can pursue careers in various fields, including education, research, and international relations. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an expected growth of 2.4% and about 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is approximately $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Area Studies
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 05.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 05.01 (Area Studies) 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 Studies 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.
Common questions
What is Area Studies?+
Area Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines specific geographical, national, or cultural regions.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Area Studies?+
Graduates can work in education, research, and international relations, among other fields.
What is the job outlook for Area Studies graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and 1,100 annual openings.
How much do Area Studies graduates earn?+
Area Studies graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,280, College Scorecard (2019); the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation pays about $98,330 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Area Studies?+
Area Studies maps to CIP 05.01 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.
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