Compare 20 Area Studies. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $39,212.
The highest-earning Area Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $38K earnings gap across 20 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Missouri-Columbia's Area Studies program leads with graduates earning $59,123, well above the $39,212 average. Iowa State follows at $57,606, while Michigan-Ann Arbor reaches $56,039—proving that outcomes vary dramatically even among respected institutions based on program-specific strengths.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Missouri graduates borrow $20,500 and face just a 7.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Iowa State offers similar value at 8.9% burden, showing that top-performing programs can also be financially smart choices.
Highest program earnings: $59,123
Strong outcomes with 77% acceptance
7.7% payment burden | Excellent
20.6% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $59,123 | 76 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $57,606 | 14 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #3 | $56,039 | 55 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $54,114 | 55 | $23,000 | Good | $34,512 | High |
| #5 | $53,328 | 18 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #6 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $49,242 | 11 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #7 | $42,881 | 31 | $20,484 | Manageable | $28,364 | High | |
| #8 | Oberlin CollegePrivate | $41,849 | 43 | $26,000 | Challenging | $45,976 | High |
| #9 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $36,676 | 25 | $26,000 | High | $40,568 | High |
| #10 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $35,416 | 24 | $19,000 | Challenging | $40,731 | High |
| #11 | $35,196 | 16 | $16,704 | Challenging | $24,323 | High | |
| #12 | University Of IowaPublic | $33,993 | 22 | $22,500 | High | $27,975 | High |
| #13 | University Of KansasPublic | $31,851 | 25 | $21,000 | High | $32,347 | High |
| #14 | $31,848 | 5 | $20,909 | High | $12,452 | High | |
| #15 | $31,839 | 9 | $22,500 | High | $16,132 | High | |
| #16 | $30,716 | 29 | $17,500 | High | $24,585 | High | |
| #17 | $28,960 | 13 | $25,000 | High | $25,947 | High | |
| #18 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $28,019 | 13 | $15,000 | High | $26,966 | High |
| #19 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | $24,035 | 9 | $26,774 | High | $34,265 | High |
| #20 | $21,508 | 5 | $23,000 | High | $16,149 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
