Compare 96 Area Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $48,414. Top programs: $96,976+.
With top graduates earning $97K, Area Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $48K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 96 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Cornell University leads the rankings, with Area Studies graduates earning $97K against a field average of $48K. Just behind, Columbia University delivers $97K for its graduates as well. More telling: Miami University-Oxford, a public school admitting 75% of applicants, produces graduates earning $79K—outperforming dozens of more selective private institutions and demonstrating that program outcomes don't follow the prestige hierarchy.
For families weighing cost alongside outcomes, Brigham Young University makes the clearest case: graduates carry just $20,768 in combined family debt and face a 6.8% family payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating. Cornell's Area Studies graduates, meanwhile, face only a 2.6% student payment burden on $14,000 in student loans—also 'Excellent'—showing that strong earnings and low debt burden can coexist at the top of the rankings. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $96,976 | 49 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #2 | $96,884 | 59 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #3 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $79,449 | 30 | $23,000 | Excellent | $34,512 | Manageable |
| #4 | Bowdoin CollegePrivate | $75,966 | 47 | $18,500 | Excellent | $52,337 | Challenging |
| #5 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $75,832 | 22 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable |
| #6 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $75,563 | 38 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Manageable |
| #7 | $75,230 | 47 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $75,205 | 34 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Manageable |
| #9 | Trinity CollegePrivate | $73,229 | 20 | $23,000 | Excellent | $60,796 | High |
| #10 | $70,366 | 54 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Manageable | |
| #11 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $69,037 | 20 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Manageable |
| #12 | William & MaryPublic | $68,909 | 43 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Manageable |
| #13 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $68,618 | 27 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Challenging |
| #14 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $67,310 | 61 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #15 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $67,230 | 42 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Manageable |
| #16 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $67,110 | 17 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Good |
| #17 | Barnard CollegePrivate | $66,117 | 28 | $18,000 | Excellent | $65,000 | High |
| #18 | $65,933 | 182 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Nevada State UniversityPublic | $65,406 | 9 | $19,691 | Excellent | $12,146 | Good |
| #20 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $65,226 | 32 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Challenging |
| #21 | Colby CollegePrivate | $64,207 | 14 | $19,157 | Excellent | $59,570 | High |
| #22 | Dickinson CollegePrivate | $63,874 | 32 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,729 | Challenging |
| #23 | New York UniversityPrivate | $62,651 | 31 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #24 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $61,860 | 9 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #25 | Connecticut CollegePrivate | $60,749 | 19 | $23,500 | Good | $44,488 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
