Best institutions to study South Asian Studies
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of South Asia, defined as including Afghanistan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and related borderlands and island groups; and including the study of migration patterns and overseas diasporas.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 20 South Asian Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0112, 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 South Asian Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of South Asia, defined as including Afghanistan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and related borderlands and island groups; and including the study of migration patterns and overseas diasporas.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The South Asian Studies program, part of the Area Studies field, delves into the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of South Asia, which includes countries like Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of South Asian societies and their global diasporas.
Students in this program develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of South Asian cultures.
Credentials awarded
What South Asian Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions45%
- Bachelor's degree7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions35%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution10%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution10%
Graduates over time
South Asian Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 52 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 20 |
Top 5 institutions for South Asian 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 Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 90% | — | — |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 96% | $15,315 | $41,479 |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 4 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 4 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 5 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $20,918 | $40,467 |
* 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 4 states
Where South Asian Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Area Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 8 | Columbia University in the City of New York6 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7 | University of Wisconsin - Madison7 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 4 | Harvard University4 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | Middlebury College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of South Asian Studies often pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies. 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 05.0112
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 South Asian 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 - 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
- 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 South Asian Studies?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
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 this degree?+
You can pursue a career as a postsecondary teacher or in related fields.
What is the job outlook for South Asian Studies graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4%.
What is the CIP code for South Asian Studies?+
South Asian Studies is CIP 05.0112 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 South Asia, defined as including Afghanistan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and related borderlands and island groups; and including the study of migration patterns and overseas diasporas.
How many institutions offer South Asian Studies programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported South Asian Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 20 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do South Asian 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 South Asian 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 $41,479 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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