by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 3 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Area Studies Master's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 479 master's degrees in area studies during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
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.
The area studies master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for area studies students working on their master's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Area Studies Master's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for area studies students seeking a a master's degree.
The University of Texas at Austin is a great option for individuals pursuing a master's degree in area studies. UT Austin is a very large public university located in the city of Austin.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the area studies program make an average of $46,699 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a master’s in area studies from The University of Texas at Austin
University of Arizona is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in area studies. University of Arizona is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Tucson.More information about a master’s in area studies from University of Arizona
University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a wonderful option for students interested in a master's degree in area studies. Located in the large city of Albuquerque, UNM is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in area studies from University of New Mexico - Main Campus
Explore the best area studies colleges for a specific state in the Southwest Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 235 | 42 |
| Arizona | 180 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 153 | 8 |
| New Mexico | 114 | 14 |
Area Studies is one of 2 different types of Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 413 |
| Latin American Studies | 22 |
| American U.S. Studies | 13 |
| Near & Middle Eastern Studies | 10 |
| Russian Studies | 8 |
| Asian Studies | 5 |
| Area Studies, Other | 4 |
| East Asian Studies | 2 |
| Italian Studies | 2 |
