Best Area Studies Programs in the United States (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 90 Area Studies programs in the United States by the median earnings of Area Studies graduates four years after completing. Cornell University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $96,976 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $96,976 to $16,169, with a median of $50,322. The gap between the top two programs is $92.
The list is evenly split between 45 public and 45 private nonprofit institutions. California State University-Fullerton posts the lowest average net price at $6,555.
University of California-Berkeley ranks 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $96,976 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University reports median earnings of $96,976 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY | $96,884 | $21,590 | $4,570 | 4.0% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York admits 4% of applicants and its Area Studies graduates earn a median of $96,884 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $79,449 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford ranks 3rd on this list, with median earnings of $79,449 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Bowdoin College · Brunswick, ME | $75,966 | $14,398 | $3,145 | 7.1% |
| Bowdoin College posts an average net price of $14,398 and median federal debt of $24,000 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 5 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $75,832 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| University of Notre Dame graduates in the earnings cohort number 22, and their median earnings four years after completing reach $75,832. | |||||
| 6 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $75,563 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 59.3% |
| Fordham University ranks 507th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Area Studies graduates earn a median of $75,563 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $75,230 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia reports an average net price of $20,268 and median earnings of $75,230 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Emory University · Atlanta, GA | $75,205 | $22,585 | $7,363 | 10.7% |
| Emory University admits 11% of applicants and carries median federal debt of $19,500 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 9 | Trinity College · Hartford, CT | $73,229 | $34,832 | $11,054 | 29.3% |
| Trinity College shows median federal debt of $23,000 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, alongside median earnings of $73,229 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $70,366 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley ranks 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Area Studies graduates earn a median of $70,366 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Tufts University · Medford, MA | $69,037 | $39,998 | $11,284 | 11.5% |
| Tufts University reports median earnings of $69,037 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 20 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
| 12 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $68,909 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary posts an average net price of $19,096 and median federal debt of $13,000 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 13 | Amherst College · Amherst, MA | $68,618 | $23,367 | $1,086 | 9.0% |
| Amherst College reports median earnings of $68,618 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $1,086 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 14 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $67,310 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| Brigham Young University ranks 14th on this list and carries a median federal debt of $11,229 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 15 | Yale University · New Haven, CT | $67,230 | $23,777 | $17,633 | 3.9% |
| With an admission rate of 4%, Yale University posts median earnings of $67,230 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $67,110 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University, a public university in Tallahassee, reports median earnings of $67,110 four years after completing and a school-wide median federal debt of $18,000 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 17 | Barnard College · New York, NY | $66,117 | $28,800 | $11,600 | 8.8% |
| Barnard College ranks 586th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $66,117 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $65,933 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports median earnings of $65,933 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $2,004 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 19 | Nevada State University · Henderson, NV | $65,406 | $14,068 | $11,438 | 86.8% |
| Nevada State University admits 87% of applicants and reports median earnings of $65,406 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH | $65,226 | $29,519 | $41 | 5.4% |
| Dartmouth College reports median earnings of $65,226 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $16,520 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 21 | Colby College · Waterville, ME | $64,207 | $17,180 | $4,049 | 7.1% |
| Colby College ranks 21st on this list and carries a school-wide median federal debt of $19,157 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 22 | Dickinson College · Carlisle, PA | $63,874 | $37,607 | $40,755 | 42.1% |
| Dickinson College reports median earnings of $63,874 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $37,607. | |||||
| 23 | New York University · New York, NY | $62,651 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University ranks 146th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $62,651 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $61,860 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University admits 89% of applicants and reports median earnings of $61,860 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | Connecticut College · New London, CT | $60,749 | $36,175 | $13,341 | 37.0% |
| Connecticut College reports median earnings of $60,749 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $36,175. | |||||
| 26 | Hobart William Smith Colleges · Geneva, NY | $60,381 | $31,563 | $14,650 | 64.0% |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges admits 64% of applicants and its Area Studies completers who borrowed left with a median of $24,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 27 | Brown University · Providence, RI | $59,808 | $25,184 | -$420* | 5.4% |
| Brown University ranks 131st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Area Studies graduates four years after completing earned a median of $59,808. | |||||
| 28 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $59,469 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park, a public university in College Park, shows an average net price of $2,962 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $59,042 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| With an admission rate of 33%, University of California-Santa Barbara reports a median federal debt of $22,697 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 30 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $58,245 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on this list with median earnings of $58,245 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 10 graduates. | |||||
| 31 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $58,232 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reports median earnings of $58,232 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $1,043 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 32 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $57,009 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Area Studies completers who borrowed left with a median of $20,750 in federal loans. | |||||
| 33 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $56,926 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus shows an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $56,926 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT | $56,508 | $31,483 | $12,723 | 10.8% |
| Middlebury College admits 11% of applicants and reports an average net price of $31,483. | |||||
| 35 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $55,733 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 35th on this list, with median earnings of $55,733 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 36 | Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH | $55,151 | $38,645 | $18,774 | 34.2% |
| Oberlin College posts an admission rate of 34% and a median federal debt of $24,951 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 37 | Brandeis University · Waltham, MA | $54,306 | $35,736 | $13,363 | 40.5% |
| Brandeis University, a private nonprofit university in Waltham, reports median earnings of $54,306 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 40. | |||||
| 38 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $54,279 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
| University of Oregon ranks 38th on this list and shows an admission rate of 88%, alongside median earnings of $54,279 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $54,187 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign left with a median of $19,500 in federal loans, while the Area Studies program reports median earnings of $54,187 four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $53,077 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge posts an average net price of $7,021 and ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 41 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $52,107 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
| With an admission rate of 13%, Georgetown University reports median earnings of $52,107 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $51,755 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| University of California-Los Angeles ranks 42nd on this list and shows median federal debt of $17,090 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 43 | Smith College · Northampton, MA | $51,131 | $27,579 | $1,363 | 21.0% |
| Smith College reports an average net price of $1,363 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $51,131 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $50,739 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median federal debt of $17,500 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 45 | University at Albany · Albany, NY | $50,572 | $17,167 | $11,112 | 69.1% |
| University at Albany admits 69% of applicants and reports median earnings of $50,572 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $50,071 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach ranks 46th on this list, with an average net price of $10,440 and median earnings of $50,071 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $49,872 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University reports median federal debt of $24,500 among Area Studies completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $49,872 four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $48,162 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| University of Arizona ranks 75th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $48,162 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $48,093 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| With an admission rate of 52%, University of Connecticut reports median earnings of $48,093 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 50 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $47,846 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| George Washington University, a private nonprofit university in Washington, ranks 50th on this list and posts an average net price of $36,586. | |||||
| 51 | St Olaf College · Northfield, MN | $47,677 | $23,874 | $10,404 | 48.3% |
| St Olaf College shows a median federal debt of $21,000 among Area Studies completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $47,677 four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $45,852 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants and ranks 171st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 53 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania · Millersville, PA | $45,749 | $20,787 | $14,565 | 86.2% |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania reports an average net price of $14,565 for families earning under $30,000, with median earnings of $45,749 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $43,806 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks 54th on this list and carries a median federal debt of $25,000 among Area Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 55 | Williams College · Williamstown, MA | $43,501 | $17,716 | -$2,610* | 8.3% |
| Williams College posts median earnings of $43,501 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $12,761 in federal loans. | |||||
| 56 | La Salle University · Philadelphia, PA | $43,240 | $19,409 | $16,545 | 96.6% |
| La Salle University has an admission rate of 97% and reports median earnings of $43,240 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $43,083 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
| University of Iowa ranks 184th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $15,316 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 58 | Harvard University · Cambridge, MA | $41,937 | $19,066 | $8,697 | 3.7% |
| Harvard University reports median earnings of $41,937 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, and admits 4% of applicants. | |||||
| 59 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $41,818 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| California State University-Chico carries a median federal debt of $16,500 among Area Studies completers who borrowed, and ranks 59th on this list. | |||||
| 60 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $40,623 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
| Western Washington University posts an average net price of $21,193, with median earnings of $40,623 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $39,909 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama reports median earnings of $39,909 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $22,420. | |||||
| 62 | University of Massachusetts-Boston · Boston, MA | $39,729 | $17,707 | $14,070 | 83.8% |
| With an admission rate of 84%, University of Massachusetts-Boston ranks 62nd on this list and posts an average net price of $14,070 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 63 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $39,369 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
| University of San Francisco, a private nonprofit university in San Francisco, ranks 328th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $39,369 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 64 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $39,369 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
| Occidental College admits 44% of applicants and reports median earnings of $39,369 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 65 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $39,039 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| University of California-Riverside ranks 31st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $17,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 66 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $37,949 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
| Median earnings for University of New Mexico-Main Campus's Area Studies graduates four years after completing reach $37,949, and the school reports an average net price of $15,489. | |||||
| 67 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $37,928 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
| University of Richmond admits 22% of applicants and ranks 67th on this list, with an average net price of $12,808 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 68 | American University · Washington, DC | $37,748 | $41,943 | $23,233 | 62.0% |
| American University reports median earnings of $37,748 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing and ranks 901st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 69 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $37,208 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
| Vanderbilt University posts an average net price of $3,414 for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $37,208 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 70 | Towson University · Towson, MD | $36,141 | $17,413 | $6,962 | 82.0% |
| Towson University ranks 114th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $36,141 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with 24 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 71 | Wellesley College · Wellesley, MA | $34,420 | $25,496 | $2,546 | 14.1% |
| Wellesley College admits 14% of applicants and reports an average net price of $2,546 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 72 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $31,851 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| Boston University reports median earnings of $31,851 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing and ranks 170th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 73 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $31,851 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
| University of Kansas admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $31,851 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 74 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $31,848 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| Ranks 92nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of Southern California is a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles. | |||||
| 75 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $31,848 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire posts an average net price of $16,550 and a median of $31,848 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 76 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $31,038 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz ranks 76th on this list, with 12 graduates in the earnings cohort and an admission rate of 62%. | |||||
| 77 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $30,554 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago reports median earnings of $30,554 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $7,529 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 78 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $29,685 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
| An average net price of $28,210 and a median of $29,685 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing are reported by University of Portland. | |||||
| 79 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $29,685 | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
| Tulane University of Louisiana ranks 996th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $39,949. | |||||
| 80 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $28,960 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus posts median earnings of $28,960 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 81 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $28,019 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
| Northwestern University admits 8% of applicants and reports an average net price of $1,764 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 82 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $27,476 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| Temple University ranks 82nd on this list, with median earnings of $27,476 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 83 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD | $27,476 | $16,467 | $5,087 | 72.4% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County reports an average net price of $16,467 and median earnings of $27,476 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 84 | Gustavus Adolphus College · Saint Peter, MN | $24,035 | $22,900 | $12,015 | 61.0% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College ranks 1038th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Area Studies graduates earn a median of $24,035 four years after completing. | |||||
| 85 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $23,742 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University ranks 85th on this list and reports median earnings of $23,742 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, with 46 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 86 | Mount Holyoke College · South Hadley, MA | $21,508 | $26,441 | $10,882 | 36.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College carries an average net price of $26,441 and an admission rate of 36%. | |||||
| 87 | Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY | $21,508 | $32,297 | $9,932 | 21.1% |
| Skidmore College admits 21% of applicants and shows an average net price of $9,932 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 88 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $20,682 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University sits 78th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $20,682 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 89 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $17,396 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $17,396 for its Area Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 61%. | |||||
| 90 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $16,169 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus ranks 90th on this list and carries an average net price of $15,673 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Area Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided Area Studies graduates who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 31 of the 90 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Cornell University and Columbia University in the City of New York sit at the top of the list, separated by just $92 in reported earnings.