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Bachelor's Degree in Area Studies

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Bachelor’s Degrees in Area Studies

4,550 Yearly Graduations
$30,421 Median Salary
$20,500 Median Debt
A bachelor's degree in area studies is offered at 420 colleges in the United States. This degree is more popular with female students, and about 41% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 7.8% of area studies graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Area Studies Majors

In 2020-2021, 4,550 earned their bachelor's degree in area studies. This makes it the 84th most popular bachelor's degree program in the country.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in area studies at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 4,550
Master’s Degree 1,450
Basic Certificate 377
Doctor’s Degree 244
Associate Degree 180
Graduate Certificate 131
Undergraduate Certificate 34

Earnings of Area Studies Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in area studies is $30,421. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $27,225 to a high of $36,522.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in area studies is $20,500. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $23,750 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $17,251.

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Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $268.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in area studies. About 65.4% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 1,574
Women 2,976
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The racial-ethnic distribution of area studies bachelor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 459
Black or African American 336
Hispanic or Latino 787
White 2,166
International Students 355
Other Races/Ethnicities 447
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There are 420 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in area studies. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
219 Yearly Graduations
74% Women
39% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for area studies majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree. Each year, around 30,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,019 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,552 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 219 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from UNC Chapel Hill. Around 39% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 74% were women.

159 Yearly Graduations
72% Women
36% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Washington - Seattle Campus comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 48,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,927 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,605 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 159 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from UW Seattle. Of these students, 72% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
96 Yearly Graduations
52% Women
65% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 3rd most popular school in the country for area studies majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of California - Berkeley. Roughly 42,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The area studies program at University of California - Berkeley awarded 96 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 52% were women and 65% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
92 Yearly Graduations
53% Women
41% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of California - Los Angeles comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 44,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The area studies program at University of California - Los Angeles awarded 92 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 53% were women and 41% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

81 Yearly Graduations
21% Women
17% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 0 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,060 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,310 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 81 bachelor's degrees were handed out to area studies majors at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Around 17% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 21% were women.

#6

Wesleyan University

Middletown, Connecticut
79 Yearly Graduations
77% Women
35% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for area studies majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Wesleyan University. Each year, around 3,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $61,449 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $61,449 per year. The area studies program at Wesleyan University awarded 79 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 77% were women and 35% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#7

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
74 Yearly Graduations
65% Women
47% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brown University is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Each year, around 9,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,944 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,944 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 74 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Brown. Around 47% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 65% were women.

#8

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
70 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
23% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Missouri - Columbia comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 31,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,017 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,950 per year. The area studies program at University of Missouri - Columbia awarded 70 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 64% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

69 Yearly Graduations
43% Women
19% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brigham Young University - Provo comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Each year, around 36,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,120 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,700 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 69 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from BYU. Of these students, 43% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
64 Yearly Graduations
56% Women
23% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brandeis University comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 5,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,408 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,498 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 64 bachelor's degrees were handed out to area studies majors at Brandeis. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 56% were women.

64 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
53% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Columbia University in the City of New York is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Roughly 30,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,496 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 64 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Columbia. Around 53% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 50% were women.

62 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
48% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for area studies majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is The University of Texas at Austin. Each year, around 50,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,752 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,050 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 62 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from UT Austin. Of these students, 69% were women and 48% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#13

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
60 Yearly Graduations
83% Women
53% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Virginia Commonwealth University is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Each year, around 29,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,094 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,618 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 60 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from VCU. Of these students, 83% were women and 53% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#14

Fordham University

Bronx, New York
59 Yearly Graduations
73% Women
37% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Fordham University is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Each year, around 16,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,730 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,112 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 59 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Fordham U. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 73% were women.

#15

Miami University - Oxford

Oxford, Ohio
56 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Miami University - Oxford comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Roughly 18,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,253 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,806 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 56 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Miami University - Oxford. Of these students, 63% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, California
51 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
71% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

California State University - Fullerton comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Each year, around 42,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,742 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,176 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 51 bachelor's degrees were handed out to area studies majors at Cal State Fullerton. Of these students, 67% were women and 71% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
51 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
31% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Emory University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in area studies. Each year, around 13,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,660 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $44,800 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 51 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Emory. Of these students, 71% were women and 31% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
51 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
35% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

William & Mary is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Roughly 8,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,434 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,516 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 51 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from William & Mary. Of these students, 71% were women and 35% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine
51 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
57% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Bowdoin College is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Roughly 1,700 attend the school each year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 51 bachelor's degrees were handed out to area studies majors at Bowdoin. About 69% of this group were women, and 57% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#20

Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire
49 Yearly Graduations
47% Women
49% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Dartmouth College is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in area studies. Roughly 6,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,953 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,953 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 49 people received their bachelor's degree in area studies from Dartmouth. Around 49% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 47% were women.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to area studies that offer bachelor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Ethnic Studies 5,787
Other Culture & Gender Studies 41

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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