Best institutions to study American Indian/Native American Studies
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian and other native peoples of the Americas from earliest times until the present, with particular emphasis on U.S.
87 U.S. institutions graduated 528 American Indian/Native American Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0202, a specialization of Ethnic (CIP 05.02), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About American Indian/Native American Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian and other native peoples of the Americas from earliest times until the present, with particular emphasis on U.S. and Canadian populations and their problems but including reference to Caribbean and Latin American native peoples.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The American Indian/Native American Studies program focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian, and other native peoples of the Americas. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities and contributions of these communities from historical and contemporary perspectives, particularly in relation to U.S. and Canadian populations.
Students in this program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, providing a comprehensive understanding of the issues faced by native peoples.
Credentials awarded
What American Indian/Native American Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree180 graduates / yr · 42 institutions34%
- Associate's degree147 graduates / yr · 32 institutions28%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year85 graduates / yr · 15 institutions16%
- Master's degree70 graduates / yr · 11 institutions13%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate33 graduates / yr · 6 institutions6.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.7%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
American Indian/Native American Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 411 |
| 2013 | 443 |
| 2014 | 454 |
| 2015 | 488 |
| 2016 | 503 |
| 2017 | 479 |
| 2018 | 490 |
| 2019 | 505 |
| 2020 | 404 |
| 2021 | 502 |
| 2022 | 484 |
| 2023 | 518 |
| 2024 | 522 |
| 2025 | 528 |
Top 50 institutions for American Indian/Native 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 | Windward Community College Kaneohe, HIPublicAssociate's | 43 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SDPublicBachelor'sAssociate'sMaster's | 33 | 9% | — | — |
| 3 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OKPublicMaster's | 32 | 32% | — | — |
| 4 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 28 | 57% | — | — |
| 5 | College of the Muscogee Nation Okmulgee, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 25 | 23% | — | $17,525 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 7 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicBachelor's | 22 | 64% | — | $20,109 |
| 8 | Haskell Indian Nations University Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor's | 16 | 18% | — | $23,887 |
| 9 | Kapiolani Community College Honolulu, HIPublicAssociate's | 11 | 22% | — | — |
| 10 | Sinte Gleska University Mission, SDPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 10 | 15% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 46% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicDoctoralBachelor's | 9 | 68% | — | $26,875 |
| 13 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 9 | 69% | — | — |
| 14 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 55% | — | $38,260 |
| 15 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 86% | — | $32,563 |
| 16 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 85% | — | $31,459 |
| 17 | Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College Mount Pleasant, MIPublicAssociate's | 8 | 33% | — | — |
| 18 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 7 | 93% | — | $29,914 |
| 19 | Northwest Indian College Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 18% | — | — |
| 20 | Hawaii Community College Hilo, HIPublicAssociate's | 7 | 33% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AKPublicBachelor's | 6 | 28% | — | — |
| 22 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 68% | — | $40,719 |
| 23 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 49% | — | $30,844 |
| 24 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 76% | — | $29,267 |
| 25 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HIPublicBachelor's | 6 | 48% | — | — |
| 26 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MNPublicBachelor's | 6 | 48% | — | — |
| 27 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 96% | $14,689 | $31,967 |
| 28 | Black Hills State University Spearfish, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 43% | — | — |
| 29 | Ilisagvik College Barrow, AKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 46% | — | — |
| 30 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 5 | 85% | — | $33,000 |
| 31 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 5 | 75% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WIPublicBachelor's | 5 | 48% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicAssociate's | 4 | 30% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 38% | — | — |
| 35 | Dine College Tsaile, AZPublicAssociate's | 4 | 13% | — | — |
| 36 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicPost-degree cert.Bachelor's | 4 | 61% | — | — |
| 37 | Fort Lewis College Durango, COPublicBachelor's | 4 | 36% | — | — |
| 38 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 90% | — | — |
| 39 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 81% | — | — |
| 40 | Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College New Town, NDPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 4 | 7% | — | — |
| 41 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor's | 4 | 53% | — | $32,441 |
| 42 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 89% | — | $37,046 |
| 43 | Bay Mills Community College Brimley, MIPublicAssociate's | 4 | 30% | — | — |
| 44 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZPublicAssociate's | 3 | 17% | — | — |
| 45 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 93% | — | $34,559 |
| 46 | Kauai Community College Lihue, HIPublicAssociate's | 3 | 48% | — | — |
| 47 | Leeward Community College Pearl City, HIPublicAssociate's | 3 | 35% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Hawaii Maui College Kahului, HIPublicAssociate's | 3 | 28% | — | — |
| 49 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 59% | — | — |
| 50 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 52% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ethnic field (CIP 05.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 26 states
Where American Indian/Native American Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic 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 American Indian/Native American 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 05.0202
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 American Indian/Native 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 Ethnic specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ethnic (CIP 05.02).
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesCIP 05.02992,170 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Women's StudiesCIP 05.02072,141 graduates / yr300 institutions
- African-American/CIP 05.0201
Black Studies 764 graduates / yr164 institutions - Disability StudiesCIP 05.0210583 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/CIP 05.0203
Chicano Studies 510 graduates / yr54 institutions - Ethnic StudiesCIP 05.0200505 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Deaf StudiesCIP 05.0211474 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Asian-American StudiesCIP 05.0206129 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Gay/CIP 05.0208
Lesbian Studies 75 graduates / yr17 institutions - Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, a short-term award, or a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in 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 American Indian/Native American Studies?+
American Indian/Native American Studies is CIP 05.0202 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ethnic (CIP 05.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian and other native peoples of the Americas from earliest times until the present, with particular emphasis on U.S. and Canadian populations and their problems but including reference to Caribbean and Latin American native peoples.
How many institutions offer American Indian/Native American Studies programs?+
87 U.S. institutions reported American Indian/Native American Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 26 states, awarding 528 credentials in the year. That is 6.6% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do American Indian/Native 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 American Indian/Native American Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ethnic field report median earnings of $31,459 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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