Best institutions to study Russian Studies
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of the Russian Federation and its Soviet, Czarist, and medieval predecessors and related borderlands.
30 U.S. institutions graduated 81 Russian Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0110, 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 Russian Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of the Russian Federation and its Soviet, Czarist, and medieval predecessors and related borderlands.
See also: 05.0105 - Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Russian Studies program, part of Area Studies, delves into the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the peoples of the Russian Federation and its historical predecessors. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of Russia and its influence on global affairs, making it suitable for those pursuing careers in academia, diplomacy, or international relations.
Students in the Russian Studies program develop a range of skills including reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often covers topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of the region's diverse cultural landscape.
Credentials awarded
What Russian Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree43 graduates / yr · 22 institutions53%
- Master's degree25 graduates / yr · 8 institutions31%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions15%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Russian Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 176 |
| 2013 | 197 |
| 2014 | 169 |
| 2015 | 149 |
| 2016 | 149 |
| 2017 | 111 |
| 2018 | 133 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2020 | 110 |
| 2021 | 126 |
| 2022 | 84 |
| 2023 | 77 |
| 2024 | 85 |
| 2025 | 81 |
Top 30 institutions for Russian 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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 89% | — | $29,746 |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 85% | — | — |
| 3 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 4 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 5 | 74% | — | — |
| 5 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 96% | $14,689 | $48,565 |
| 6 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 7 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 81% | $28,313 | $20,905 |
| 8 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 68% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster's | 3 | 85% | — | $24,332 |
| 10 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicMaster's | 3 | 80% | — | — |
| 11 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 96% | $27,025 | $55,618 |
| 12 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 86% | $25,074 | $43,748 |
| 13 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 72% | — | $31,427 |
| 14 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 85% | $24,049 | $33,340 |
| 15 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 93% | — | $23,819 |
| 16 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $22,678 | — |
| 17 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $26,083 | — |
| 18 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster's | 1 | 93% | — | $28,261 |
| 19 | St Olaf College Northfield, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $18,124 | $35,569 |
| 20 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 96% | $15,315 | $41,479 |
| 21 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 22 | United States Military Academy West Point, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 87% | — | — |
| 23 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 88% | — | — |
| 24 | The College of Wooster Wooster, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 74% | $22,491 | — |
| 25 | Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 85% | $19,854 | — |
| 26 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $20,918 | $40,467 |
| 27 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 1 | 79% | — | — |
| 28 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 94% | $11,983 | — |
| 29 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 1 | 85% | — | $43,668 |
| 30 | Lawrence University Appleton, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 77% | $19,788 | — |
* 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 19 states
Where Russian Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Area Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 13 | The University of Texas at Austin13 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 11 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus11 / yr |
| Connecticut | 2 | 8 | Wesleyan University6 / yr |
| New York | 4 | 7 | New York University4 / yr |
| Virginia | 3 | 7 | George Mason University4 / yr |
| Ohio | 3 | 6 | Oberlin College4 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 5 | University of Colorado Boulder5 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 4 | Dartmouth College4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 3 | Brandeis University2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 3 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington3 / yr |
| California | 2 | 2 | University of California - Los Angeles1 / yr |
| Vermont | 2 | 2 | Middlebury College1 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 2 | University of Oregon2 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | St Olaf College1 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | Rhodes College1 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Lawrence University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Russian Studies program can pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this field is projected to grow by 2.4%, with 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 05.0110
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 Russian 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
- 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 - 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 this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this 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 2.4% growth with approximately 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Russian Studies?+
Russian Studies is CIP 05.0110 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 peoples of the Russian Federation and its Soviet, Czarist, and medieval predecessors and related borderlands.
How many institutions offer Russian Studies programs?+
30 U.S. institutions reported Russian Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states, awarding 81 credentials in the year. That is 1.6% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do Russian 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 Russian 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 $35,569 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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