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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $47,677 | 22 | $26,000 | Manageable | $40,568 | High |
| #52 | $45,852 | 42 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,585 | High | |
| #53 | $45,749 | 7 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High | |
| #54 | $43,806 | 18 | $18,500 | Good | $30,988 | High | |
| #55 | Williams CollegePrivate | $43,501 | 15 | $12,761 | Good | $31,178 | High |
| #56 | La Salle UniversityPrivate | $43,240 | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| #57 | University Of IowaPublic | $43,083 | 11 | $22,500 | Manageable | $27,975 | High |
| #58 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $41,937 | 11 | — | — | — | — |
| #59 | $41,818 | 23 | $16,552 | Good | $17,585 | High | |
| #60 | $40,623 | 13 | $18,500 | Manageable | $23,123 | High | |
| #61 | $39,909 | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
| #62 | $39,729 | 8 | — | — | — | — | |
| #63 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $39,369 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| #64 | Occidental CollegePrivate | $39,369 | 10 | — | — | — | — |
| #65 | $39,039 | 14 | $17,500 | Manageable | $18,275 | High | |
| #66 | $37,949 | 12 | $18,450 | Manageable | $13,000 | High | |
| #67 | University Of RichmondPrivate | $37,928 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| #68 | American UniversityPrivate | $37,748 | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| #69 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $37,208 | 17 | — | — | — | — |
| #70 | Towson UniversityPublic | $36,141 | 24 | — | — | — | — |
| #71 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | $34,420 | 28 | — | — | — | — |
| #72 | $32,064 | 34 | — | — | — | — | |
| #73 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $31,851 | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| #74 | University Of KansasPublic | $31,851 | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| #75 | $31,848 | 14 | — | — | — | — |
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 →
