Best institutions to study Gay/Lesbian Studies
A program that focuses on homosexuality in history, society, politics, and cultural life; usually with an emphasis on the modern emergence of gays and lesbians as a sociocultural minority movement, the identification of social, literary, and artistic themes and the definition of, and public policy and legal issues surrounding, the gay and lesbian community.
17 U.S. institutions graduated 75 Gay/Lesbian Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0208, 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 Gay/Lesbian Studies programs
A program that focuses on homosexuality in history, society, politics, and cultural life; usually with an emphasis on the modern emergence of gays and lesbians as a sociocultural minority movement, the identification of social, literary, and artistic themes and the definition of, and public policy and legal issues surrounding, the gay and lesbian community.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Gay/Lesbian Studies program, part of the Ethnic field, focuses on the historical, societal, political, and cultural aspects of homosexuality. It emphasizes the emergence of the gay and lesbian community as a sociocultural minority movement, exploring themes in literature, art, and public policy. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of gender and sexuality within various cultural contexts.
Students in this program develop essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes discussions on race, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, preparing graduates for thoughtful engagement in diverse environments.
Credentials awarded
What Gay/Lesbian Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year65 graduates / yr · 13 institutions87%
- Bachelor's degree5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions6.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate3 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.0%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.7%
Graduates over time
Gay/Lesbian Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 52 |
| 2019 | 47 |
| 2020 | 66 |
| 2021 | 75 |
| 2022 | 77 |
| 2023 | 78 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 75 |
Top 17 institutions for Gay/Lesbian 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 | 12 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 49% | — | $30,504 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 59% | — | — |
| 4 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 67% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 75% | — | — |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 89% | — | $37,046 |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 68% | — | $40,719 |
| 8 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 76% | — | $29,267 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 64% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 56% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 90% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 2 | 89% | — | $34,777 |
| 14 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 36% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 70% | — | — |
| 16 | Hampshire College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 54% | $22,968 | — |
| 17 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 58% | — | — |
* 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 12 states
Where Gay/Lesbian Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 5 | 37 | University of Wisconsin - Madison12 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 6 | Rowan University6 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 6 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 6 | The University of Texas at Austin6 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion5 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 4 | Cornell University4 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 3 | University of Maryland - College Park2 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | San Diego State University3 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | University of Georgia2 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Purdue University Fort Wayne1 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Hampshire College1 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | University of Michigan - Dearborn1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Gay/Lesbian Studies may pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies. The job outlook in this field is about as fast as average, with an annual 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 05.0208
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 Gay/Lesbian 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
- Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What is Gay/Lesbian Studies?+
It is a program that examines homosexuality in various contexts, focusing on its historical and cultural significance.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and active learning, among others.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can become a postsecondary teacher or work in related fields focusing on ethnic and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Gay/Lesbian Studies?+
Gay/Lesbian Studies is CIP 05.0208 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 homosexuality in history, society, politics, and cultural life; usually with an emphasis on the modern emergence of gays and lesbians as a sociocultural minority movement, the identification of social, literary, and artistic themes and the definition of, and public policy and legal issues surrounding, the gay and lesbian community.
How many institutions offer Gay/Lesbian Studies programs?+
17 U.S. institutions reported Gay/Lesbian Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 75 credentials in the year. That is 0.9% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Gay/Lesbian 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 Gay/Lesbian 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 $34,777 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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