African Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
African Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of the diverse peoples, nations, and regions across the African continent. It emphasizes the historical development, social structures, political systems, cultural expressions, and economic dynamics of Africa—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—while also examining the global impact and experiences of African diasporas.
- Historical Development: Traces the evolution of African societies from ancient civilizations to modern nation-states, including colonialism, independence movements, and post-colonial transformations.
- Social Structures: Analyzes family systems, kinship networks, community organization, and demographic trends across various African regions and communities.
- Political Systems: Investigates governance models, state formation, political institutions, civil society, conflict resolution, and the role of leadership in African countries.
- Cultural Expressions: Explores languages, oral traditions, music, visual arts, literature, religion, and performance as vital components of African identity and heritage.
- Economic Dynamics: Studies trade patterns, resource management, agricultural practices, industrialization, development strategies, and the influence of global markets on African economies.
- African Diasporas: Examines the historical and contemporary experiences of African-descended populations in the Americas, Europe, and other regions, including cultural preservation and transnational connections.
African Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
African Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with African Studies degrees, including Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1062 | $84,290 | $51,130 - $164,650 | 11,430 | N/A |
African Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $61,920 in Florida to $113,070 in California—a 83% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Vermont, and Kansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 11,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for African Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 47 institutions offering African Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in African Studies is found at University of Wisconsin-Madison (20 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (14 graduates), University of Chicago (UChicago) (13 graduates), Brown University (11 graduates), and Kennesaw State University (KSU) (11 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 209 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
20 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
14 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
10 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
6 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Lincoln University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania | Public | lincoln.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
|
5 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
5 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Agnes Scott College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Decatur, Georgia | Private | agnesscott.edu |
| Morehouse College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | morehouse.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
|
3 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Franklin and Marshall College (F&M) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | fandm.edu |
| Lafayette College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Easton, Pennsylvania | Private | lafayette.edu |
| Furman University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | furman.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Other Award
|
2 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Simmons University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Union College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Schenectady, New York | Private | union.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
2 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
1 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
1 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| St Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Canton, New York | Private | stlawu.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| University of Lynchburg |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | lynchburg.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about African Studies programs
How much can I earn with a African Studies degree?
Salaries for African Studies graduates vary by role and location. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $84,290 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $113,070 compared to $61,920 in Florida. Approximately 11,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest African Studies programs?
Currently 47 accredited institutions offer African Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Wisconsin-Madison (20 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (14 graduates), and University of Chicago (UChicago) (13 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in African Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 209 in 2010 to a peak of 246 in 2020, before declining slightly to 209 in 2023-24. This represents a 0% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a African Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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