Compare 22 Area Studies. programs in the West. Average earnings: $43,202.
With top graduates earning $78K, Area Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $34K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of California-Berkeley's Area Studies program leads with graduates earning $77,557, well above the regional average of $43,202. University of Southern California follows at $62,809, while University of Washington-Seattle Campus delivers $55,743—demonstrating that West Coast publics compete directly with private institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 3.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, Brigham Young University leads with a 9.2% family burden, keeping loan payments manageable for the entire household.
Highest program earnings: $77,557
Strong outcomes ($55,711) with 69% acceptance
3.2% payment burden | Excellent
9.2% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $77,557 | 103 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #2 | $62,809 | 22 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $55,743 | 193 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $55,711 | 69 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Good |
| #5 | $55,626 | 100 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $51,163 | 65 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $47,728 | 68 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Manageable | |
| #8 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $45,324 | 42 | $19,620 | Good | $30,126 | High |
| #9 | $44,722 | 28 | $13,000 | Good | $25,733 | High | |
| #10 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $44,503 | 54 | $14,340 | Good | $13,923 | Challenging |
| #11 | $43,898 | 19 | $18,500 | Good | $30,988 | High | |
| #12 | $42,575 | 17 | $16,552 | Good | $17,585 | High | |
| #13 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $39,369 | 16 | $23,000 | Challenging | $44,413 | High |
| #14 | Occidental CollegePrivate | $39,369 | 9 | $23,000 | Challenging | $51,450 | High |
| #15 | $38,467 | 27 | $13,993 | Manageable | $26,465 | High | |
| #16 | University Of OregonPublic | $36,916 | 17 | $20,139 | Challenging | $44,405 | High |
| #17 | $32,358 | 20 | $17,500 | Challenging | $18,275 | High | |
| #18 | $30,897 | 19 | $15,000 | Challenging | $22,665 | High | |
| #19 | University Of PortlandPrivate | $29,685 | 6 | $21,370 | High | $57,555 | High |
| #20 | $26,793 | 17 | $13,872 | High | $13,522 | High | |
| #21 | $25,194 | 18 | $18,500 | High | $23,123 | High | |
| #22 | $24,035 | 17 | $18,450 | High | $13,000 | 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 →
