Best colleges for Area Studies in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates a year
Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and East Tennessee State University award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 20, 14 and 4 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Tennessee colleges offer Area Studies and award 49 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Area Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the research and scholarship of specific geographical, national, or cultural regions. This field encompasses various disciplines, including international relations, history,…
7 institutions offering Area Studies in Tennessee
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 20 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | — | 14 | 54% | — | — |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | — | 4 | 53% | — | — |
| 4 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | — | 4 | 85% | $19,854 | — |
| 5 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit | — | 4 | 80% | $21,573 | — |
| 6 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 71% | $29,246 | — |
| 7 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 72% | $24,309 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Tennessee
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 4 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 5 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 6 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1062).
Top skills
What Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
Vanderbilt University (20 graduates a year), Middle Tennessee State University (14 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (4 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Tennessee colleges offer Area Studies.
How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee is $79,600 (median $75,060), across about 60 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Area Studies program?+
Area Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the research and scholarship of specific geographical, national, or cultural regions. This field encompasses various disciplines, including international relations, history,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, speaking, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary?+
The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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.
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