Latin American Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: 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).

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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)

498

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

107

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 1 related occupation. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
University of Florida (UF)	Postbac Cert. Master's	23	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33	Gainesville, Florida	Public	ufl.edu
California State University	Bachelor's Master's	18	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Public	calstatela.edu
Georgetown University (GU)	Master's	18	SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 32-34	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	georgetown.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Postbac Cert. Other Award	18	SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
University of Utah (U of U)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	17	SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29	Salt Lake City, Utah	Public	utah.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)	Bachelor's Master's	15	SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32	Chicago, Illinois	Public	uic.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWEC)	Bachelor's Other Award	15	ACT: 21-27	Eau Claire, Wisconsin	Public	uwec.edu
University of California (UCSD)	Bachelor's Master's	13	N/A	La Jolla, California	Public	ucsd.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York	Bachelor's Master's	12	SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35	New York, New York	Private	columbia.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)	Bachelor's Master's Other Award	12	SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28	Athens, Ohio	Public	ohio.edu
Tulane University of Louisiana	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	11	SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33	New Orleans, Louisiana	Private	tulane.edu
University of Arizona	Bachelor's Master's	10	SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30	Tucson, Arizona	Public	arizona.edu
California State University	Bachelor's	10	N/A	Chico, California	Public	csuchico.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	10	SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33	Austin, Texas	Public	utexas.edu
Bowdoin College	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1480-1550 ACT: 33-35	Brunswick, Maine	Private	bowdoin.edu
Washington University in St Louis (WashU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	9	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35	Saint Louis, Missouri	Private	wustl.edu
Duke University	Postbac Cert.	9	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Durham, North Carolina	Private	duke.edu
California State University (CSUN)	Bachelor's	8	N/A	Northridge, California	Public	csun.edu
Florida International University (FIU)	Postbac Cert. Master's	8	SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26	Miami, Florida	Public	fiu.edu
University of Nebraska (UNO)	Bachelor's	8	ACT: 18-26	Omaha, Nebraska	Public	unomaha.edu
Fordham University	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33	Bronx, New York	Private	fordham.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Bachelor's Master's	8	SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 21-27	Charlotte, North Carolina	Public	charlotte.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)	Bachelor's Other Award	7	N/A	Tempe, Arizona	Public	asu.edu
University of Chicago (UChicago)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Chicago, Illinois	Private	uchicago.edu
University of New Mexico (UNM)	Bachelor's Master's	7	SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Public	unm.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32	Provo, Utah	Private	byu.edu
Stanford University	Master's	7	SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-35	Stanford, California	Private	stanford.edu
University of Miami (UM)	Bachelor's Master's	6	SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33	Coral Gables, Florida	Private	miami.edu
Syracuse University	Postbac Cert.	6	SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32	Syracuse, New York	Private	syracuse.edu
Temple University	Bachelor's Other Award	6	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Public	temple.edu
University of North Texas (UNT)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 19-27	Denton, Texas	Public	unt.edu
Rice University	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-36	Houston, Texas	Private	rice.edu
University of California (UCLA)	Bachelor's Master's	5	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Public	ucla.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)	Bachelor's Master's	5	N/A	San Diego, California	Public	sdsu.edu
Yale University	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35	New Haven, Connecticut	Private	yale.edu
University of South Florida (USF)	Master's	5	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29	Tampa, Florida	Public	usf.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
Western Washington University (WWU)	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 23-29	Bellingham, Washington	Public	wwu.edu
Wesleyan University	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1450-1540 ACT: 33-35	Middletown, Connecticut	Private	wesleyan.edu
Wheaton College	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1260-1440 ACT: 27-32	Wheaton, Illinois	Private	wheaton.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)	Other Award	4	SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28	Indianapolis, Indiana	Public	indianapolis.iu.edu
University of Louisville (UofL)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	4	SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 19-27	Louisville, Kentucky	Public	louisville.edu
University of Massachusetts	Postbac Cert. Other Award	4	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33	Amherst, Massachusetts	Public	umass.edu
Smith College	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1408-1540 ACT: 32-34	Northampton, Massachusetts	Private	smith.edu
Miami University	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31	Oxford, Ohio	Public	miamioh.edu
Rhodes College	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1290-1490 ACT: 28-33	Memphis, Tennessee	Private	rhodes.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's Master's	4	SAT: 1170-1410 ACT: 25-32	Richardson, Texas	Public	utdallas.edu
University of California (UCR)	Bachelor's	3	N/A	Riverside, California	Public	ucr.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)	Bachelor's Master's	3	SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34	Champaign, Illinois	Public	illinois.edu
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)	Master's	3	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Public	neiu.edu
University of Maryland (UMCP)	Certificate (≥2 yrs)	3	SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35	College Park, Maryland	Public	umd.edu
Brandeis University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1390-1530 ACT: 31-34	Waltham, Massachusetts	Private	brandeis.edu
New York University (NYU)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35	New York, New York	Private	nyu.edu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1370-1530 ACT: 30-34	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Public	unc.edu
Dickinson College	Bachelor's	3	N/A	Carlisle, Pennsylvania	Private	dickinson.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)	Master's	3	SAT: 870-1090 ACT: 17-23	El Paso, Texas	Public	utep.edu
California State University	Bachelor's	2	N/A	Fresno, California	Public	fresnostate.edu
American University (AU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 29-33	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	american.edu
Emory University	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	emory.edu
Lake Forest College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1170-1365 ACT: 28-31	Lake Forest, Illinois	Private	lakeforest.edu
Indiana University (IUB)	Master's	2	SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32	Bloomington, Indiana	Public	indiana.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)	Residency	2	SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26	Wichita, Kansas	Public	wichita.edu
Bates College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 31-33	Lewiston, Maine	Private	bates.edu
Colby College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-34	Waterville, Maine	Private	colby.edu
Boston University (BU)	Bachelor's Master's	2	SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	bu.edu
Wellesley College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 33-35	Wellesley, Massachusetts	Private	wellesley.edu
Macalester College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1350-1510 ACT: 30-33	Saint Paul, Minnesota	Private	macalester.edu
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1100-1320	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1220-1360 ACT: 26-32	Geneva, New York	Private	hws.edu
Binghamton University	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34	Vestal, New York	Public	binghamton.edu
Vassar College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1435-1550 ACT: 33-35	Poughkeepsie, New York	Private	vassar.edu
Davidson College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 31-34	Davidson, North Carolina	Private	davidson.edu
Oberlin College	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1370-1510 ACT: 30-33	Oberlin, Ohio	Private	oberlin.edu
University of Oregon (UO)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1130-1360 ACT: 22-30	Eugene, Oregon	Public	uoregon.edu
Vanderbilt University (VU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1510-1560 ACT: 34-35	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	vanderbilt.edu
Texas Christian University (TCU)	Bachelor's	2	SAT: 1150-1375 ACT: 26-31	Fort Worth, Texas	Private	tcu.edu
Pitzer College (PZ)	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Claremont, California	Private	pitzer.edu
Pomona College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1480-1560 ACT: 33-35	Claremont, California	Private	pomona.edu
University of San Francisco (USF)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1210-1390 ACT: 26-31	San Francisco, California	Private	usfca.edu
Scripps College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1420-1530 ACT: 32-34	Claremont, California	Private	scrippscollege.edu
Saint Mary's College of California	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Moraga, California	Private	stmarys-ca.edu
University of Southern California (USC)	Post-Master's	1	SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35	Los Angeles, California	Private	usc.edu
Connecticut College (Conn)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1340-1470 ACT: 31-33	New London, Connecticut	Private	conncoll.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33	Storrs, Connecticut	Public	uconn.edu
University of Idaho (U of I)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-29	Moscow, Idaho	Public	uidaho.edu
DePaul University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1130-1340 ACT: 26-31	Chicago, Illinois	Private	depaul.edu
Knox College (Knox)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1120-1385 ACT: 21-30	Galesburg, Illinois	Private	knox.edu
Principia College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1040-1250 ACT: 19-23	Elsah, Illinois	Private	principiacollege.edu
Cornell College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1150-1318 ACT: 23-30	Mount Vernon, Iowa	Private	cornellcollege.edu
Amherst College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1360-1550 ACT: 31-35	Amherst, Massachusetts	Private	amherst.edu
Tufts University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Medford, Massachusetts	Private	tufts.edu
Albion College	Bachelor's	1	N/A	Albion, Michigan	Private	albion.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 18-24	Las Vegas, Nevada	Public	unlv.edu
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)	Associate's	1	N/A	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Public	cnm.edu
Adelphi University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1140-1310 ACT: 24-30	Garden City, New York	Private	adelphi.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
Pace University	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1130-1328 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
SUNY College	Bachelor's	1	SAT: 1100-1270	Plattsburgh, New York	Public	plattsburgh.edu
Ohio State University	Master's	1	SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32	Columbus, Ohio	Public	osu.edu
Portland State University (PSU)	Other Award	1	N/A	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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