Best Colleges for Area Studies

Area Studies programs prepare students to understand complex global regions through interdisciplinary coursework combining history, politics, economics, and culture. With 98 schools offering this major nationwide, students should prioritize programs with strong language requirements, study abroad opportunities, and faculty expertise in their region of interest. Look for curricula that emphasize primary source research, cultural immersion experiences, and connections to government agencies or international organizations. Graduates typically earn $32,868 annually, often finding careers in diplomacy, international development, journalism, or graduate school preparation. The best programs offer flexibility to tailor coursework toward specific career goals while building deep regional knowledge and cross-cultural competency.

Schools Ranked

$42,329

Avg. Program Earnings

84.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia	$52,107	94.3%	private-nonprofit
2	Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire	$48,432	96.0%	private-nonprofit
3	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$47,846	85.2%	private-nonprofit
4	University of the Pacific Stockton, California	$44,384	67.8%	private-nonprofit
5	Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	$44,384	96.6%	private-nonprofit
6	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$44,356	95.3%	public
7	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$44,170	95.1%	private-nonprofit
8	Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont	$44,091	92.6%	private-nonprofit
9	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$43,798	95.0%	private-nonprofit
10	La Salle University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$43,240	57.9%	private-nonprofit
11	Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California	$42,682	69.0%	private-nonprofit
12	Emory University Atlanta, Georgia	$42,123	91.8%	private-nonprofit
13	Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine	$42,123	95.6%	private-nonprofit
14	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$41,937	97.3%	private-nonprofit
15	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$40,821	92.9%	public
16	The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama	$39,909	73.7%	public
17	University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, Massachusetts	$39,729	51.1%	public
18	Barnard College New York, New York	$39,648	92.9%	private-nonprofit
19	Mary Baldwin University Staunton, Virginia	$39,648	55.7%	private-nonprofit
20	University of San Francisco San Francisco, California	$39,369	71.1%	private-nonprofit
21	Occidental College Los Angeles, California	$39,369	85.1%	private-nonprofit
22	Yale University New Haven, Connecticut	$39,009	96.3%	private-nonprofit
23	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$38,829	88.6%	public
24	Dickinson College Carlisle, Pennsylvania	$38,289	83.4%	private-nonprofit
25	Fordham University Bronx, New York	$37,928	80.3%	private-nonprofit