Compare 96 Area Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $48,414. Top programs: $96,976+.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #26 | $60,381 | 17 | $27,000 | Good | $61,178 | High | |
| #27 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $59,808 | 74 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Challenging |
| #28 | $59,469 | 11 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #29 | $59,042 | 23 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | |
| #30 | $58,245 | 10 | $21,500 | Good | $25,294 | Challenging | |
| #31 | $58,232 | 37 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Challenging | |
| #32 | $57,009 | 55 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #33 | $56,926 | 170 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #34 | Middlebury CollegePrivate | $56,508 | 20 | $13,857 | Excellent | $27,380 | Challenging |
| #35 | $55,733 | 34 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | Challenging | |
| #36 | Oberlin CollegePrivate | $55,151 | 35 | $26,000 | Good | $45,976 | High |
| #37 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $54,306 | 40 | $25,648 | Good | $35,451 | High |
| #38 | University Of OregonPublic | $54,279 | 13 | $20,139 | Good | $44,405 | High |
| #39 | $54,187 | 17 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #40 | $53,077 | 5 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Manageable | |
| #41 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $52,107 | 24 | — | — | — | — |
| #42 | $51,755 | 50 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Challenging | |
| #43 | Smith CollegePrivate | $51,131 | 21 | $17,550 | Good | $30,366 | High |
| #44 | $50,739 | 44 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Manageable | |
| #45 | University At AlbanyPublic | $50,572 | 15 | $19,500 | Good | $22,398 | Challenging |
| #46 | $50,071 | 43 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #47 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $49,872 | 10 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #48 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $48,162 | 56 | $19,620 | Good | $30,126 | High |
| #49 | $48,093 | 8 | $21,500 | Good | $35,324 | High | |
| #50 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $47,846 | 32 | — | — | — | — |
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 →
