Area Studies programs
CIP 0501 · Area, Ethnic & Gender Studies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
78 institutions report graduate earnings for Area Studies programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $59,808 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36× and 84% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 4 of the 83 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford UniversityCA · Master's | $116,125 n=19 | 90% 5yr | $37,500 | 0.32× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Harvard UniversityMA · Master's | $115,583 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +53% | — |
| 3 | Cornell UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $96,976 n=24 | 88% 5yr | $17,250 | 0.18× | Above +155% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $96,884 n=29 | 93% 5yr | $21,636 | 0.22× | Above +155% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Georgetown UniversityDC · Master's | $91,661 n=89 | 94% 5yr | $76,142 | 0.83× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 6 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's | $88,197 n=26 | 81% 5yr | $48,911 | 0.56× | Above +18% | Below 1/2 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Master's | $81,697 n=24 | 74% 1yr | $50,000 | 0.61× | Above +15% | — |
| 8 | Miami University-OxfordOH · Bachelor's | $79,449 n=54 | 80% 5yr | $20,526 | 0.26× | Above +116% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Bowdoin CollegeME · Bachelor's | $75,966 n=30 | 77% 1yr | $24,000 | 0.32× | Above +108% | — |
| 10 | University of Notre DameIN · Bachelor's | $75,832 n=21 | — | $18,250 | 0.24× | Above +103% | — |
| 11 | Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $75,563 n=53 | 90% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.34× | Above +99% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO · Bachelor's | $75,230 n=89 | 82% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.28× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Emory UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $75,205 n=29 | 79% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.26× | Above +113% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | George Washington UniversityDC · Master's | $74,265 n=18 | 94% 5yr | $46,000 | 0.62× | Below -14% | Below 2/2 |
| 15 | Trinity CollegeCT · Bachelor's | $73,229 n=18 | — | $20,500 | 0.28× | Above +73% | — |
| 16 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's | $71,833 n=16 | 84% 5yr | — | — | Below -5% | Below 2/2 |
| 17 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $71,404 n=38 | 80% 5yr | $34,157 | 0.48× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 18 | University of ChicagoIL · Master's | $70,631 n=29 | — | $62,295 | 0.88× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 19 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's | $70,366 n=79 | 97% 5yr | $14,839 | 0.21× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Tufts UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $69,037 n=31 | 88% 5yr | $13,500 | 0.20× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | William & MaryVA · Bachelor's | $68,909 n=33 | 89% 5yr | $13,000 | 0.19× | Above +81% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Ramapo College of New JerseyNJ · Bachelor's | $68,806 n=17 | 96% 5yr | $22,250 | 0.32× | Above +72% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | Amherst CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $68,618 n=20 | 77% 1yr | — | — | Above +58% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $67,310 n=52 | 80% 5yr | $11,229 | 0.17× | Above +69% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Yale UniversityCT · Bachelor's | $67,230 n=24 | 89% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.18× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $67,110 n=20 | 86% 5yr | $19,250 | 0.29× | Above +99% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Barnard CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $66,117 n=27 | 60% 1yr | $19,000 | 0.29× | Above +74% | — |
| 28 | University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Bachelor's | $65,970 n=42 | 82% 5yr | $21,965 | 0.33× | Above +73% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · Bachelor's | $65,933 n=223 | 36% | $13,261 | 0.20× | Above +92% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Nevada State UniversityNV · Bachelor's | $65,406 n=23 | — | $23,861 | 0.36× | Above +74% | — |
| 31 | Dartmouth CollegeNH · Bachelor's | $65,226 n=23 | 79% 1yr | $16,520 | 0.25× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Master's | $64,228 n=21 | 93% 5yr | — | — | Above +2% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Colby CollegeME · Bachelor's | $64,207 n=17 | 84% 1yr | — | — | Above +76% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPA · UG cert | $63,939 n=21 | — | $26,000 | 0.41× | Above +70% | — |
| 35 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · UG cert | $63,939 n=21 | — | $26,000 | 0.41× | Above +70% | — |
| 36 | Dickinson CollegePA · Bachelor's | $63,874 n=36 | 86% 5yr | $19,802 | 0.31× | Above +69% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $62,651 n=20 | — | $19,500 | 0.31× | Above +65% | — |
| 38 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $61,860 n=19 | 94% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.44× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | University of Michigan-DearbornMI · Bachelor's | $60,891 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +74% | — |
| 40 | Connecticut CollegeCT · Bachelor's | $60,749 n=29 | 85% 5yr | $21,220 | 0.35× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Hobart William Smith CollegesNY · Bachelor's | $60,381 n=19 | 59% 1yr | $24,000 | 0.40× | Above +59% | — |
| 42 | Brown UniversityRI · Bachelor's | $59,808 n=38 | 80% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.20× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's | $59,469 n=31 | 85% 5yr | $17,750 | 0.30× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 44 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's | $59,042 n=23 | — | $22,697 | 0.38× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 45 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $58,245 n=35 | — | $22,015 | 0.38× | Above +46% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's | $58,232 n=46 | 80% | $13,821 | 0.24× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 47 | University of Puget SoundWA · Bachelor's | $57,407 n=18 | — | $27,000 | 0.47× | Above +35% | — |
| 48 | The University of Texas at AustinTX · Bachelor's | $57,009 n=53 | 89% | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 49 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusWA · Bachelor's | $56,926 n=74 | 100% | $14,845 | 0.26× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $56,926 n=74 | 100% | $14,845 | 0.26× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA · Bachelor's | $56,926 n=74 | 100% | $14,845 | 0.26× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 52 | Middlebury CollegeVT · Bachelor's | $56,508 n=24 | 64% 1yr | $11,593 | 0.20× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 53 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $55,733 n=26 | 100% | $20,196 | 0.36× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 54 | Oberlin CollegeOH · Bachelor's | $55,151 n=20 | — | $24,951 | 0.45× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 55 | Brandeis UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $54,306 n=40 | 100% | $26,000 | 0.48× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 56 | University of OregonOR · Bachelor's | $54,279 n=19 | — | $21,003 | 0.39× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 57 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $54,187 n=34 | 84% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.32× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 58 | California State University-NorthridgeCA · Bachelor's | $53,077 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +38% | — |
| 59 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $51,755 n=55 | 81% 5yr | $17,090 | 0.33× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 60 | Smith CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $51,131 n=26 | 76% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.37× | Above +18% | Below 1/2 |
| 61 | California State University-FullertonCA · Bachelor's | $50,739 n=86 | 84% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.34× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 62 | University at AlbanyNY · Bachelor's | $50,572 n=28 | — | $21,361 | 0.42× | Above +33% | — |
| 63 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's | $50,071 n=67 | 71% 5yr | $15,348 | 0.31× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 64 | DePaul UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $49,872 n=17 | — | $24,500 | 0.49× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's | $48,162 n=37 | 82% 5yr | $23,750 | 0.49× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 66 | University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's | $48,093 n=16 | — | $21,420 | 0.45× | Above +14% | — |
| 67 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's | $48,093 n=16 | — | $21,420 | 0.45× | Above +14% | — |
| 68 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's | $48,093 n=16 | — | $21,420 | 0.45× | Above +14% | — |
| 69 | University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's | $48,093 n=16 | — | $21,420 | 0.45× | Above +14% | — |
| 70 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's | $48,093 n=16 | — | $21,420 | 0.45× | Above +14% | — |
| 71 | Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the CaribbeanPR · Doctoral | $47,725 n=31 | 61% 1yr | $24,825 | 0.52× | Above +71% | — |
| 72 | St Olaf CollegeMN · Bachelor's | $47,677 n=23 | 70% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.44× | Above +19% | Below 1/2 |
| 73 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $45,852 n=69 | 56% | $22,625 | 0.49× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 74 | Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $45,749 n=18 | 73% 5yr | $24,964 | 0.55× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 75 | University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Bachelor's | $43,806 n=17 | 79% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.57× | Above +7% | Clears 2/2 |
| 76 | Williams CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $43,501 n=20 | 96% 5yr | $8,925 | 0.20× | Above +0% | Clears 2/2 |
| 77 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · UG cert | $43,166 n=27 | — | $22,378 | 0.52× | Above +11% | — |
| 78 | University of IowaIA · Bachelor's | $43,083 n=20 | — | $27,000 | 0.63× | Above +12% | — |
| 79 | California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's | $41,818 n=29 | 76% 5yr | $16,500 | 0.40× | Above +9% | Clears 2/2 |
| 80 | Western Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $40,623 n=30 | — | $15,000 | 0.37× | Below -5% | — |
| 81 | University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's | $39,039 n=18 | — | $23,000 | 0.59× | Above +2% | Below 1/2 |
| 82 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's | $37,949 n=27 | — | $17,500 | 0.46× | Above +17% | — |
| 83 | Florida International UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $23,742 n=17 | — | $19,125 | 0.81× | Below -30% | Below 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $71,404 | 9 |
| Virginia | $65,970 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,906 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | $61,462 | 6 |
| Michigan | $60,891 | 3 |
| Washington | $56,926 | 6 |
| Illinois | $54,187 | 3 |
| California | $52,416 | 10 |
| Connecticut | $48,093 | 8 |
States with at least 3 reporting Area Studies programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Area Studies programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Area Studies programs in this dataset are Stanford University ($116,125), Harvard University ($115,583), Cornell University ($96,976). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Area Studies programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 4 of the 83 Area Studies programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.