Latin American Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of the historical development, social structures, political systems, cultural expressions, and economic dynamics across Latin America. This program examines the region’s rich and complex heritage, from pre-colonial civilizations to contemporary global interactions, with a focus on the diverse peoples and identities shaped by centuries of migration, resistance, and innovation.
- Pre-Columbian Civilizations: In-depth analysis of ancient societies such as the Maya, Inca, and Aztec, including their political organization, religious beliefs, technological achievements, and lasting cultural legacies.
- Colonial and Postcolonial History: Examination of European conquest, imperial rule, and the long-term impacts of colonialism on national identities, land use, and social hierarchies across Latin America.
- Political Systems and Governance: Study of democratic movements, authoritarian regimes, revolutionary struggles, and the evolution of state institutions in the region.
- Cultural Production and Identity: Exploration of literature, visual arts, music, film, and performance as expressions of national and transnational identities, resistance, and social change.
- Economic Development and Globalization: Investigation into patterns of resource extraction, trade, debt, labor migration, and the influence of international institutions on regional economies.
- Migration and Diaspora Studies: Analysis of internal and transnational migration, including the movement of people from Latin America to the U.S. and other regions, and the formation of diasporic communities.
Latin American Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Latin American Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Latin American 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 |
Latin American 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 Latin American Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Latin American 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 Latin American Studies is found at University of Florida (UF) (23 graduates), California State University, Los Angeles (18 graduates), Georgetown University (GU) (18 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (18 graduates), and University of Utah (U of U) (17 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 491 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 Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
18 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
18 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
15 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
12 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| Fordham University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
7 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
|
7 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
6 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
5 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Other Award
|
4 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
4 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Smith College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Northampton, Massachusetts | Private | smith.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Rhodes College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | rhodes.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
3 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
3 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
3 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
|
3 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Lake Forest College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lake Forest, Illinois | Private | lakeforest.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
2 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Residency
|
2 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Bates College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lewiston, Maine | Private | bates.edu |
| Colby College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Waterville, Maine | Private | colby.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| Macalester College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | macalester.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| Pomona College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | pomona.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Scripps College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | scrippscollege.edu |
| Saint Mary's College of California |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Moraga, California | Private | stmarys-ca.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Knox College (Knox) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Galesburg, Illinois | Private | knox.edu |
| Principia College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Elsah, Illinois | Private | principiacollege.edu |
| Cornell College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mount Vernon, Iowa | Private | cornellcollege.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Albion College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Albion, Michigan | Private | albion.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
1 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
1 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Latin American Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Latin American Studies degree?
Salaries for Latin American 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 Latin American Studies programs?
Currently 107 accredited institutions offer Latin American Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Florida (UF) (23 graduates), California State University, Los Angeles (18 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (18 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 Latin American Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,070 in 2010 to a peak of 719 in 2020, before declining slightly to 498 in 2023-24. This represents a 53% 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 Latin American 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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