Best institutions to study Disability Studies
A program that focuses on the nature, meaning, and consequences of what it is to be defined as disabled and explores the historical, cultural, economic, physiological, and socio-political dynamics of disability.
28 U.S. institutions graduated 583 Disability Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0210, 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 Disability Studies programs
A program that focuses on the nature, meaning, and consequences of what it is to be defined as disabled and explores the historical, cultural, economic, physiological, and socio-political dynamics of disability. Includes instruction in disability rights, legal issues, and public policy; literature, philosophy, and the arts; and/or research in the social sciences, education, and health sciences addressing social and experiential aspects of disability.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Disability Studies program, under the Ethnic Studies umbrella, delves into the complexities of being defined as disabled. It investigates the historical, cultural, economic, physiological, and socio-political dimensions of disability, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of disability rights, legal issues, and public policy. This program is ideal for those interested in exploring the intersection of disability with various social and cultural contexts.
Students in this program acquire essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics in sociology, anthropology, and the arts, equipping graduates with a well-rounded knowledge base to address the social and experiential aspects of disability.
Credentials awarded
What Disability Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year293 graduates / yr · 6 institutions50%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate97 graduates / yr · 11 institutions17%
- Master's degree73 graduates / yr · 3 institutions13%
- Bachelor's degree66 graduates / yr · 8 institutions11%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years13 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.2%
- Associate's degree13 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks11 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.9%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.9%
Graduates over time
Disability Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 76 |
| 2013 | 63 |
| 2014 | 81 |
| 2015 | 118 |
| 2016 | 157 |
| 2017 | 171 |
| 2018 | 202 |
| 2019 | 239 |
| 2020 | 254 |
| 2021 | 347 |
| 2022 | 412 |
| 2023 | 426 |
| 2024 | 487 |
| 2025 | 583 |
Top 28 institutions for Disability 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, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 222 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 2 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Bachelor's | 118 | — | — | — |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 50 | 62% | — | $33,366 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicPost-degree cert. | 26 | 75% | — | $34,216 |
| 5 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 90% | — | — |
| 6 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 20 | 68% | — | $40,719 |
| 7 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 14 | 23% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 85% | — | — |
| 9 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 75% | $30,225 | $46,206 |
| 10 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 12 | 84% | $28,851 | $18,854 |
| 11 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 55% | — | — |
| 12 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 10 | 68% | $28,141 | $18,029 |
| 13 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 68% | — | $26,875 |
| 14 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 75% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Toledo Toledo, OHPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 6 | 57% | — | — |
| 16 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 5 | 63% | — | $29,607 |
| 17 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 5 | 0% | — | $40,719 |
| 18 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 55% | — | — |
| 19 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicBachelor's | 4 | 44% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 64% | — | — |
| 21 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 93% | — | $29,914 |
| 22 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 64% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 79% | — | — |
| 24 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 1 | 77% | $48,795 | — |
| 25 | Aurora University Aurora, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 60% | $18,431 | — |
| 26 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 27 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 28 | Minot State University Minot, NDPublicMaster's | 1 | 45% | — | — |
* 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 17 states
Where Disability Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 1 | 222 | University of Wisconsin - Madison222 / yr |
| New York | 4 | 145 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center118 / yr |
| Illinois | 4 | 62 | University of Illinois Chicago50 / yr |
| Arizona | 3 | 33 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion20 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 26 | University of Iowa26 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 21 | University of Georgia21 / yr |
| Ohio | 3 | 15 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus7 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus14 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 13 | American University13 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 11 | University of Maine11 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University5 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 4 | University of Missouri - Kansas City4 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 4 | William Paterson University of New Jersey4 / yr |
| California | 2 | 3 | University of California - Los Angeles2 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 2 | University of Alabama at Birmingham2 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | University of Vermont2 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 1 | Minot State 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 Disability Studies program can pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual job openings. The median wage for this occupation is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0210
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 Disability 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 - American Indian/CIP 05.0202
Native American Studies 528 graduates / yr87 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 is Disability Studies?+
Disability Studies is an interdisciplinary program that examines the nature and implications of disability across various cultural and social contexts.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available?+
Graduates can work as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Disability Studies?+
Disability Studies is CIP 05.0210 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 nature, meaning, and consequences of what it is to be defined as disabled and explores the historical, cultural, economic, physiological, and socio-political dynamics of disability. Includes instruction in disability rights, legal issues, and public policy; literature, philosophy, and the arts; and/or research in the social sciences, education, and health sciences addressing social and experiential aspects of disability.
How many institutions offer Disability Studies programs?+
28 U.S. institutions reported Disability Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states, awarding 583 credentials in the year. That is 7.3% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Disability 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 Disability 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 $29,914 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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