Best institutions to study Latin American Studies
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic peoples of the North and South American Continents outside Canada and the United States, including the study of the Pre-Columbian period and the flow of immigrants from other societies.
86 U.S. institutions graduated 365 Latin American Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0107, 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 Latin American Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic peoples of the North and South American Continents outside Canada and the United States, including the study of the Pre-Columbian period and the flow of immigrants from other societies.
See also: 05.0203 - Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Latin American Studies program, part of the Area Studies field, focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of Hispanic peoples across North and South America, excluding Canada and the United States. This program also explores the Pre-Columbian period and the impact of immigration from various societies. It is ideal for students interested in understanding the diverse experiences and contributions of Latin American communities.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes subjects like sociology, anthropology, history, and foreign languages, providing a well-rounded understanding of Latin American cultures and societies.
Credentials awarded
What Latin American Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree146 graduates / yr · 25 institutions40%
- Bachelor's degree132 graduates / yr · 60 institutions36%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate45 graduates / yr · 10 institutions12%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year29 graduates / yr · 8 institutions7.9%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.9%
- Award of less than 12 weeks3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Latin American Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 960 |
| 2013 | 927 |
| 2014 | 771 |
| 2015 | 809 |
| 2016 | 795 |
| 2017 | 683 |
| 2018 | 628 |
| 2019 | 546 |
| 2020 | 564 |
| 2021 | 483 |
| 2022 | 470 |
| 2023 | 412 |
| 2024 | 375 |
| 2025 | 365 |
Top 50 institutions for Latin American 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 Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 27 | 91% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 24 | 85% | — | — |
| 3 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 21 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 4 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 53% | — | — |
| 5 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 13 | 74% | — | $19,457 |
| 6 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 7 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master's | 12 | 65% | — | — |
| 8 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 9 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 11 | 86% | — | — |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 11 | 89% | — | $29,746 |
| 11 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 10 | 93% | — | $23,819 |
| 12 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 9 | 96% | $15,315 | $41,479 |
| 13 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 8 | 68% | — | $31,480 |
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 15 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 81% | $13,712 | $37,019 |
| 16 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 6 | 62% | — | — |
| 17 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 55% | — | — |
| 18 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster's | 6 | 65% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 64% | — | — |
| 20 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, ILPublicMaster's | 5 | 22% | — | — |
| 21 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 5 | 94% | $14,126 | $30,716 |
| 22 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 23 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 56% | — | — |
| 24 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 25 | United States Military Academy West Point, NYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 87% | — | — |
| 26 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 3 | 68% | — | — |
| 27 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 76% | — | — |
| 28 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 29 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor's | 3 | 78% | — | — |
| 30 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 31 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicMaster's | 3 | 77% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 33 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 68% | $28,141 | $40,248 |
| 34 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 3 | 51% | — | — |
| 35 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 94% | $16,081 | $49,149 |
| 36 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 3 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 37 | Smith College Northampton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 89% | $17,183 | $29,878 |
| 38 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 92% | $19,292 | $43,231 |
| 39 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NEPublicBachelor's | 3 | 47% | — | — |
| 40 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor's | 3 | 82% | — | — |
| 41 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 42 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | 50% | — | — |
| 43 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 91% | $20,918 | $40,467 |
| 44 | California State University - Chico Chico, CAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 63% | — | $23,149 |
| 45 | Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 46 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicMaster's | 2 | 76% | — | — |
| 47 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 96% | $27,025 | $55,618 |
| 48 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 91% | $20,586 | $33,549 |
| 49 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicMaster's | 2 | 80% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 2 | 61% | — | — |
* 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 29 states
Where Latin American 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 Latin American Studies program can pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0107
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 Latin American 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 - Area StudiesCIP 05.0199505 graduates / yr65 institutions
- East Asian StudiesCIP 05.0104446 graduates / yr62 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 Latin American Studies?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, with a median wage of $84,290.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 86 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Latin American Studies program.
What is the CIP code for Latin American Studies?+
Latin American Studies is CIP 05.0107 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Area Studies (CIP 05.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic peoples of the North and South American Continents outside Canada and the United States, including the study of the Pre-Columbian period and the flow of immigrants from other societies.
How many institutions offer Latin American Studies programs?+
86 U.S. institutions reported Latin American Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 29 states, awarding 365 credentials in the year. That is 7.4% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do Latin American 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 Latin American 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 $33,549 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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