Area Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Area Studies offers an interdisciplinary exploration of specific global regions, integrating cultural, historical, political, economic, and social dimensions to foster deep understanding of diverse societies. This program equips students with analytical tools to examine complex regional dynamics through a rigorous academic lens, preparing them for careers in international relations, policy, research, and global development.
- Regional History and Civilization: Traces the evolution of societies, empires, and cultural developments across time, emphasizing pivotal events and transformations that shaped modern identities.
- Language and Linguistics: Focuses on the study of regional languages, including spoken and written forms, linguistic structures, and their role in cultural expression and communication.
- Political Systems and Governance: Analyzes governmental institutions, policy frameworks, and power structures within specific regions, including comparative approaches to democracy, authoritarianism, and state formation.
- Economic Development and Trade: Investigates regional economies, resource distribution, trade networks, and development challenges, with attention to global interdependencies and inequality.
- Cultural Practices and Social Structures: Examines traditions, family systems, gender roles, religion, and social hierarchies as they influence community life and national identity.
- Geopolitical and Security Studies: Explores strategic relationships, conflict dynamics, military policies, and regional security concerns within the context of international affairs.
Area Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Area Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Area 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 |
Area 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 Area Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 63 institutions offering Area 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 Area Studies is found at University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (126 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (104 graduates), University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (55 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (38 graduates), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (36 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 630 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 Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
|
104 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
38 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
10 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Chabot College (CC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Hayward, California | Public | chabotcollege.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Nevada State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Henderson, Nevada | Public | nsc.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Saint Norbert College (SNC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | De Pere, Wisconsin | Private | snc.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| Citrus College |
Associate's
|
4 | Glendora, California | Public | citruscollege.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
4 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Saint Ambrose University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Davenport, Iowa | Private | sau.edu |
| Siena Heights University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | sienaheights.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| Lafayette College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Easton, Pennsylvania | Private | lafayette.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
3 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Canada College |
Associate's
|
2 | Redwood City, California | Public | canadacollege.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
|
2 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Imperial Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Imperial, California | Public | imperial.edu |
| Occidental College (Oxy) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Los Angeles, California | Private | oxy.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Sacramento City College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Sacramento, California | Public | scc.losrios.edu |
| Berkeley City College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeleycitycollege.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
|
1 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Foothill College |
Associate's
|
1 | Los Altos Hills, California | Public | foothill.edu |
| Golden West College (GWC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Huntington Beach, California | Public | goldenwestcollege.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Associate's
|
1 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| College of Marin (COM) |
Associate's
|
1 | Kentfield, California | Public | marin.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Associate's
|
1 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| San Jose City College (SJCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | San Jose, California | Public | sjcc.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
1 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Area Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Area Studies degree?
Salaries for Area 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 Area Studies programs?
Currently 63 accredited institutions offer Area Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (126 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (104 graduates), and University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (55 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 Area Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,223 in 2010 to a peak of 815 in 2020, before declining slightly to 630 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% 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 Area 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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