2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 1,003 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,229 and $21,228 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 15 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,978 and $116,300 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 3 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the area studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Area Studies Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region doctor’s degree area studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 3 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

#1 in overall quality

$34,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at William & Mary, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at William & Mary

#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

#3 in overall quality

$30,248 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Area Studies Report

#3

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

#2 in overall quality

$61,176 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 3 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Tulane also made our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tulane are $61,176.

Read full report on Area Studies at Tulane University of Louisiana

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $0-$30k)

Notes and References

References

• 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 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).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.

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