2023 Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools
Finding the Best Area Studies Bachelor's Degree School for You
Area Studies is the #112 most popular major in the country with 6,966 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 419 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Area Studies program at each school on the list.
2023 Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for a Bachelor's in Area Studies
Our 2023 rankings named University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the most popular school in the United States for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the small city of Chapel Hill.
Women make up 74% of the area studies majors at the school.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, area studies majors at UNC Chapel Hill accumulate an average of around $14,716 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $211, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public school with a very large student population.
About 72% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 28% are male.
The average amount in student loans that area studies majors at UW Seattle take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $17,617.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the city of Berkeley.
Of the 96 students majoring in area studies at UC Berkeley, 48% are male and 52% are female.
The average amount in student loans that area studies majors at UC Berkeley take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $17,653.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. UCLA is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Of the 92 students majoring in area studies at UCLA, 47% are male and 53% are female.
Area Studies majors at UCLA take out an average of $17,916 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular area studies schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fort-Worth, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Of the 81 students majoring in area studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 79% are male and 21% are female.
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Wesleyan University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Middletown, Wesleyan U is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
About 77% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 23% are male.
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Brown University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 65% of the area studies majors at the school.
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University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for area studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Mizzou is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Columbia.
About 64% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 36% are male.
This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $461, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #9, Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo.
Women make up 43% of the area studies majors at the school.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, area studies majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $11,871 in student debt.
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Brandeis University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree area studies programs. Brandeis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Waltham.
Of the 64 students majoring in area studies at Brandeis, 44% are male and 56% are female.
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With a ranking of #10, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
Of the 64 students majoring in area studies at Columbia, 50% are male and 50% are female.
Area Studies majors at Columbia take out an average of $21,923 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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The University of Texas at Austin landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree area studies programs. UT Austin is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Austin.
Women make up 69% of the area studies majors at the school.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, area studies majors at UT Austin accumulate an average of around $17,600 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $268.
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Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Richmond, VCU is a public school with a very large student population.
About 83% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 17% are male.
On average, area studies graduates from VCU take out $24,762 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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With a ranking of #14, Fordham University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Fordham U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx.
Women make up 73% of the area studies majors at the school.
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With a ranking of #15, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school located in the fringe town of Oxford.
Women make up 63% of the area studies majors at the school.
The average amount in student loans that area studies majors at Miami University - Oxford take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $20,876.
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William & Mary came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, William & Mary is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
About 71% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 29% are male.
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With a ranking of #16, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.
About 67% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 33% are male.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, area studies graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $17,763.
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Bowdoin College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree area studies programs. Bowdoin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Brunswick.
Of the 51 students majoring in area studies at Bowdoin, 31% are male and 69% are female.
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With a ranking of #16, Emory University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Atlanta.
Women make up 71% of the area studies majors at the school.
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University of Maryland Global Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Adelphi, UMGC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 37% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 63% are male.
On average, area studies graduates from UMGC take out $15,676 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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With a ranking of #20, New York University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
About 45% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 55% are male.
The average amount in student loans that area studies majors at NYU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $17,951.
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Dartmouth College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for area studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Dartmouth is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Hanover.
About 47% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 53% are male.
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With a ranking of #23, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for area studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. U-M is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor.
About 69% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 31% are male.
The average amount in student loans that area studies majors at U-M take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $16,527.
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University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Columbia, UofSC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
About 77% of the students majoring in area studies at the school are women while 23% are male.
Full Area Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia Report
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University of Arizona landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree area studies programs. Located in the large city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 44 students majoring in area studies at University of Arizona, 27% are male and 73% are female.
Area Studies majors at University of Arizona take out an average of $21,915 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Full Area Studies at University of Arizona Report
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Additional Award Winners
This list shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 419 different United States area studies schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Georgetown University | Washington, DC |
| 50 | University at Albany | Albany, NY |
| 53 | Williams College | Williamstown, MA |
| 54 | Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA |
| 54 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY |
| 56 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
| 56 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 56 | University of Maryland - College Park | College Park, MD |
| 56 | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| 60 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus | Albuquerque, NM |
| 60 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison, WI |
| 62 | Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Geneva, NY |
| 62 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA |
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional popular schools for Area Studies students that almost earned our Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools award.
Area Studies by Region
View the Most Popular Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Other Related Area Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Explore societal similarities and differences as seen through cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic lenses when you earn one of your degrees in anthropology from Southern New Hampshire University.
Area Studies Related Majors
Area Studies is one of 2 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ethnic Studies | 9,231 |
| Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies (Other) | 46 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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