Best institutions to study Folklore Studies
A program that focuses on the study of creativity and aesthetic expression in everyday life, as expressed in narrative, literature, performing arts, culture, work, family and community.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 60 Folklore Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0209, 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 Folklore Studies programs
A program that focuses on the study of creativity and aesthetic expression in everyday life, as expressed in narrative, literature, performing arts, culture, work, family and community.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Folklore Studies program, under the Ethnic field, focuses on the exploration of creativity and aesthetic expression in everyday life. This includes the study of narratives, literature, performing arts, and cultural practices within various communities. It is designed for students interested in understanding the rich tapestry of cultural expressions and the significance of folklore in society.
Students in this program develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics related to race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of sociocultural dynamics.
Credentials awarded
What Folklore Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year20 graduates / yr · 1 institution33%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 5 institutions25%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship10 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Bachelor's degree9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions15%
- Award of less than 12 weeks6 graduates / yr · 1 institution10%
Graduates over time
Folklore Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2015 | 59 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 57 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 31 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2025 | 60 |
Top 8 institutions for Folklore 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 | 20 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 2 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 16 | 80% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 72% | — | — |
| 4 | South Mountain Community College Phoenix, AZPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 6 | 16% | — | — |
| 5 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicMaster's | 5 | 59% | — | — |
| 6 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicMaster's | 2 | 93% | — | $34,559 |
| 7 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicMaster's | 2 | 56% | — | — |
| 8 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
* 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 8 states
Where Folklore Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 1 | 20 | University of Wisconsin - Madison20 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 16 | Indiana University - Bloomington16 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 7 | University of Oregon7 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 6 | South Mountain Community College6 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 5 | Utah State University5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 2 | University of California - Berkeley2 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 2 | Western Kentucky University2 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Harvard University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Folklore Studies often 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 05.0209
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 Folklore 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
- 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 - Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Folklore Studies?+
You can earn various degrees, including an Award of at least 12 weeks, a Master's degree, a Doctor's degree, or a Bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Folklore Studies?+
You can pursue careers as a postsecondary teacher in Area, 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% and 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Folklore Studies?+
Folklore Studies is CIP 05.0209 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 study of creativity and aesthetic expression in everyday life, as expressed in narrative, literature, performing arts, culture, work, family and community.
How many institutions offer Folklore Studies programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Folklore Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 60 credentials in the year. That is 0.8% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Folklore 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 Folklore 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 $34,559 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card