Best institutions to study Humanities/Humanistic Studies
A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion.
335 U.S. institutions graduated 18,516 Humanities/Humanistic Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 24.0103, a specialization of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01), and leads most directly to the Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 25-1199).
About Humanities/Humanistic Studies programs
A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Humanities/Humanistic Studies program, part of the broader Liberal Arts and Sciences field, focuses on the exploration of various humanities subjects. This program is designed for students interested in languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy, and religion, providing a well-rounded education that fosters critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Students in this program engage in combined studies and research, developing skills in analysis, communication, and creative expression. Coursework often includes topics related to literature, philosophy, and the arts, equipping graduates with a diverse set of knowledge applicable in various fields.
Credentials awarded
What Humanities/Humanistic Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree16,408 graduates / yr · 158 institutions89%
- Bachelor's degree1,404 graduates / yr · 141 institutions7.6%
- Master's degree459 graduates / yr · 35 institutions2.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year87 graduates / yr · 8 institutions0.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship75 graduates / yr · 11 institutions0.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years49 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate27 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.1%
- Post-master's certificate7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.0%
Graduates over time
Humanities/Humanistic Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 16,914 |
| 2013 | 18,494 |
| 2014 | 19,235 |
| 2015 | 19,759 |
| 2016 | 20,613 |
| 2017 | 21,134 |
| 2018 | 23,404 |
| 2019 | 25,384 |
| 2020 | 23,509 |
| 2021 | 22,149 |
| 2022 | 21,424 |
| 2023 | 19,939 |
| 2024 | 22,151 |
| 2025 | 18,516 |
Top 50 institutions for Humanities/Humanistic 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 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAssociate's | 1,292 | 36% | — | — |
| 2 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CAPublicAssociate's | 1,230 | 35% | — | $32,492 |
| 3 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 744 | 48% | — | — |
| 4 | Norco College Norco, CAPublicAssociate's | 724 | 42% | — | — |
| 5 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CAPublicAssociate's | 681 | 34% | — | $24,046 |
| 6 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAssociate's | 667 | 23% | — | $27,510 |
| 7 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAssociate's | 644 | 31% | — | $27,782 |
| 8 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAssociate's | 599 | 37% | — | $27,524 |
| 9 | Santiago Canyon College Orange, CAPublicAssociate's | 364 | 48% | — | $31,050 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington, CAPublicAssociate's | 356 | 36% | — | — |
| 11 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAssociate's | 355 | 34% | — | — |
| 12 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 307 | 46% | — | — |
| 13 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate's | 304 | 42% | — | — |
| 14 | Ventura College Ventura, CAPublicAssociate's | 280 | 38% | — | — |
| 15 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 279 | 49% | — | — |
| 16 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CAPublicAssociate's | 279 | 36% | — | $23,923 |
| 17 | SUNY Westchester Community College Valhalla, NYPublicAssociate's | 265 | 25% | — | $30,417 |
| 18 | Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CAPublicAssociate's | 264 | 29% | — | — |
| 19 | Shasta College Redding, CAPublicAssociate's | 253 | 23% | — | $20,031 |
| 20 | Lassen Community College Susanville, CAPublicAssociate's | 249 | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CAPublicAssociate's | 209 | 48% | — | — |
| 22 | Compton College Compton, CAPublicAssociate's | 208 | 27% | — | — |
| 23 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAssociate's | 195 | 37% | — | $33,628 |
| 24 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAssociate's | 193 | 44% | — | — |
| 25 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 183 | 33% | — | $24,353 |
| 26 | Cosumnes River College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate's | 163 | 40% | — | — |
| 27 | West Los Angeles College Culver City, CAPublicAssociate's | 157 | 28% | — | — |
| 28 | Palo Verde College Blythe, CAPublicAssociate's | 156 | 31% | — | — |
| 29 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg, CAPublicAssociate's | 155 | 41% | — | $29,879 |
| 30 | Oxnard College Oxnard, CAPublicAssociate's | 153 | 34% | — | — |
| 31 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAssociate's | 150 | 37% | — | — |
| 32 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate's | 149 | 37% | — | — |
| 33 | College of the Desert Palm Desert, CAPublicAssociate's | 145 | 31% | — | $30,417 |
| 34 | Folsom Lake College Folsom, CAPublicAssociate's | 141 | 44% | — | — |
| 35 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 137 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 36 | College of the Redwoods Eureka, CAPublicAssociate's | 135 | 34% | — | — |
| 37 | Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest, CAPublicAssociate's | 134 | 25% | — | — |
| 38 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NYPublicAssociate's | 131 | 25% | — | $20,630 |
| 39 | Imperial Valley College Imperial, CAPublicAssociate's | 121 | 45% | — | — |
| 40 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate's | 117 | 48% | — | $19,673 |
| 41 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAssociate's | 115 | 38% | — | — |
| 42 | Coastline Community College Fountain Valley, CAPublicAssociate's | 112 | 34% | — | — |
| 43 | Porterville College Porterville, CAPublicAssociate's | 107 | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | SUNY Corning Community College Corning, NYPublicAssociate's | 106 | 34% | — | $26,679 |
| 45 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CAPublicAssociate's | 101 | 62% | — | $21,383 |
| 46 | Berkeley City College Berkeley, CAPublicAssociate's | 101 | 36% | — | — |
| 47 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CAPublicAssociate's | 95 | 25% | — | — |
| 48 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CAPublicBachelor's | 92 | 59% | — | $30,413 |
| 49 | Rockland Community College Suffern, NYPublicAssociate's | 91 | 29% | — | $21,840 |
| 50 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 90 | 68% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Liberal Arts and Sciences field (CIP 24.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 43 states & territories
Where Humanities/Humanistic Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Liberal Arts and Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1199, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Humanities/Humanistic Studies program often pursue careers as postsecondary teachers and other roles in education and the arts. With an annual growth rate of 1.8% and approximately 13,500 job openings each year, the median wage for these positions is around $78,490, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 24.0103
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Postsecondary Teachers, All Otherprimary SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Liberal Arts and Sciences specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop critical thinking, communication, and creative expression skills.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers and in various roles within the arts and education.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with a growth rate of 1.8% and about 13,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Humanities/Humanistic Studies?+
Humanities/Humanistic Studies is CIP 24.0103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion.
How many institutions offer Humanities/Humanistic Studies programs?+
335 U.S. institutions reported Humanities/Humanistic Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 43 states & territories, awarding 18,516 credentials in the year. That is 3.4% of all Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.
How much do Humanities/Humanistic Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation, which Humanities/Humanistic Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,640 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Liberal Arts and Sciences field report median earnings of $30,286 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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