Best institutions to study Area Studies
Any instructional program in specifically defined area studies not listed above.
65 U.S. institutions graduated 505 Area Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0199, a specialization of Area Studies (CIP 05.01), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About Area Studies programs
Any instructional program in specifically defined area studies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Area Studies program focuses on the in-depth study of specific cultural, ethnic, and social groups. It is designed for students interested in exploring diverse perspectives and understanding the complexities of various communities. This program is ideal for those who wish to engage in critical discussions about race, ethnicity, and gender, and to develop a nuanced understanding of global cultures.
Students in the Area Studies program will develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics in sociology, anthropology, history, and foreign languages, allowing students to gain a comprehensive understanding of cultural dynamics and group interactions.
Credentials awarded
What Area Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree378 graduates / yr · 33 institutions75%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year44 graduates / yr · 6 institutions8.7%
- Associate's degree41 graduates / yr · 21 institutions8.1%
- Master's degree29 graduates / yr · 8 institutions5.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.0%
Graduates over time
Area Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,091 |
| 2013 | 941 |
| 2014 | 947 |
| 2015 | 824 |
| 2016 | 827 |
| 2017 | 821 |
| 2018 | 755 |
| 2019 | 689 |
| 2020 | 636 |
| 2021 | 598 |
| 2022 | 574 |
| 2023 | 530 |
| 2024 | 536 |
| 2025 | 505 |
Top 50 institutions for Area Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 83 | 85% | — | $43,668 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor's | 74 | 91% | — | $31,955 |
| 3 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor's | 46 | 75% | — | $44,096 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 32 | 85% | — | — |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 63% | — | $35,557 |
| 6 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor's | 25 | 79% | — | $32,064 |
| 7 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 8 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor's | 18 | 59% | — | $31,894 |
| 9 | Nevada State University Henderson, NVPublicBachelor's | 13 | 34% | — | $54,607 |
| 10 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 55% | — | — |
| 11 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 89% | — | $53,779 |
| 12 | Vermont State University Randolph, VTPublicBachelor's | 9 | 47% | — | — |
| 13 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 70% | $37,121 | — |
| 14 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 93% | $24,675 | $34,142 |
| 15 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 6 | 38% | — | — |
| 16 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 60% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 18 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 34% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster's | 5 | 83% | — | — |
| 20 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 39% | $17,015 | — |
| 21 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 57% | — | — |
| 22 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicMaster's | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 23 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 3 | 83% | — | — |
| 24 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 48% | — | — |
| 25 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 33% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 27 | Colgate University Hamilton, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 91% | $22,903 | — |
| 28 | Lafayette College Easton, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 88% | $20,396 | — |
| 29 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 58% | — | $39,814 |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 46% | — | — |
| 31 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 32 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 45% | — | — |
| 33 | Citrus College Glendora, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 41% | — | — |
| 34 | Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 48% | — | — |
| 35 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 56% | — | — |
| 36 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 37 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 38 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 81% | $28,024 | — |
| 39 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 48% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 41 | Berkeley City College Berkeley, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 36% | — | — |
| 42 | Delaware State University Dover, DEPublicBachelor's | 2 | 39% | — | — |
| 43 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 44 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 45 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 96% | — | $34,280 |
| 46 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 71% | $23,319 | — |
| 47 | Las Positas College Livermore, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 48 | Canada College Redwood City, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 47% | — | — |
| 49 | College of the Desert Palm Desert, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 31% | — | — |
| 50 | Imperial Valley College Imperial, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 45% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Area Studies field (CIP 05.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 22 states
Where Area Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Area Studies programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Area Studies program can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in ethnic and cultural studies. With an average annual growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual job openings, this field offers a median wage of $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0199
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Area Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Area Studies specializations
The 36 other 6-digit CIP codes under Area Studies (CIP 05.01).
- American/CIP 05.0102
United States Studies/ Civilization 1,027 graduates / yr120 institutions - Regional Studies (U.S.CIP 05.0122partial data783 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Asian Studies/CIP 05.0103
Civilization 549 graduates / yr94 institutions - East Asian StudiesCIP 05.0104446 graduates / yr62 institutions
- Latin American StudiesCIP 05.0107365 graduates / yr86 institutions
- Near and Middle Eastern StudiesCIP 05.0108261 graduates / yr46 institutions
- African StudiesCIP 05.0101171 graduates / yr45 institutions
- European Studies/CIP 05.0106
Civilization 161 graduates / yr27 institutions - Russian StudiesCIP 05.011081 graduates / yr30 institutions
- French StudiesCIP 05.012478 graduates / yr26 institutions
- RussianCIP 05.010569 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Latin American and Caribbean StudiesCIP 05.013466 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Japanese StudiesCIP 05.012756 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Italian StudiesCIP 05.012645 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Spanish and Iberian StudiesCIP 05.0130partial data43 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Western European StudiesCIP 05.0114partial data40 graduates / yr5 institutions
- German StudiesCIP 05.012537 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Chinese StudiesCIP 05.012329 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pacific Area/CIP 05.0109
Pacific Rim Studies partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions - Scandinavian StudiesCIP 05.0111partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- South Asian StudiesCIP 05.0112partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian StudiesCIP 05.0120limited data14 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Southeast Asian StudiesCIP 05.0113partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Slavic StudiesCIP 05.0118limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Appalachian StudiesCIP 05.0135limited data8 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Korean StudiesCIP 05.0128limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Irish StudiesCIP 05.0133limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Canadian StudiesCIP 05.0115limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 8 more CIP codes 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.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Area Studies?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or a Master's degree, among other awards.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with an Area Studies degree?+
You can work as a postsecondary teacher in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4%.
What is the CIP code for Area Studies?+
Area Studies is CIP 05.0199 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Area Studies (CIP 05.01). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in specifically defined area studies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Area Studies programs?+
65 U.S. institutions reported Area Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 22 states, awarding 505 credentials in the year. That is 10.2% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do Area Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Area Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Area Studies field report median earnings of $35,557 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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