Best colleges for Area Studies in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Western Washington University and University of Washington-Bothell Campus award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Washington: 109, 11 and 6 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Washington colleges offer Area Studies and award 137 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,…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,668 | 109 | 85% | — | $14,922 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,103 | 11 | 65% | — | $15,655 |
Colleges awarding the most Area Studies degrees in Washington
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 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 109 | $43,668* |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 11 | $33,103 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 6 | $43,668* |
| 4 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 5 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 2 | 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 Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Area Studies programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Area Studies degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (109 graduates a year), Western Washington University (11 graduates a year) and University of Washington-Bothell Campus (6 graduates a year) award the most Area Studies degrees and certificates in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Washington colleges offer Area Studies.
Which Area Studies program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $43,668. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Washington is $84,450 (median $81,410), across about 240 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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