2025 Best Area Studies Schools in California
12
Colleges in California
793
Area Studies Degrees Awarded
$36,713
Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in
area studies, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #115 in the country in terms of popularity. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.
In 2025, College Factual analyzed 12 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Area Studies Schools in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 793 degrees in area studies to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings
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Featured Area Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Anthropology
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.
Learn More
Choosing a Great Area Studies School
The area studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Area Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Area Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.
Pick Your Area Studies Degree Level
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Area Studies Schools in California list to help you make the college decision.
You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.
In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you.
When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.
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Featured Area Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Anthropology
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.
Learn More
Best Schools for Area Studies in California
If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the area studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
10 Top California Schools in Area Studies
It's difficult to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a degree in area studies. UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.
There were approximately 65 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Those area studies students who get their degree from University of California - Berkeley make $14,015 more than the average area studies grad.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Berkeley
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
8th
Most Popular In CA
Every student pursuing a degree in area studies needs to take a look at University of Southern California. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means USC is a great university overall.
There were roughly 24 area studies students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of Southern California
Bachelors
Degree Type
BA in Anthropology
Program Name
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.
More information about a degree in BA in Anthropology from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
University of California - Los Angeles is a great choice for students interested in a degree in area studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.
There were about 78 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the area studies program report average early career income of $23,819.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Los Angeles
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
7th
Most Popular In CA
University of California - Santa Barbara is a good option for students interested in a degree in area studies. Located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #47 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCSB is a great university overall.
There were roughly 27 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Santa Barbara
Located in the small suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #55 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.
There were about 22 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the area studies program state that they receive average early career income of $21,527.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Davis
CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Long Beach. This university ranks 36th out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 48 area studies students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the area studies program state that they receive average early career earnings of $28,591.
More information about a degree in area studies from California State University - Long Beach
UC Irvine is a fairly large public university located in the city of Irvine. This university ranks 12th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were about 32 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the area studies program earn about $30,897 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Irvine
Bachelors
Degree Type
BA in History
Program Name
Gain a rich foundation of knowledge ranging from early history to modern times with this online bachelor's degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University.
More information about a degree in BA in History from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
13th
Most Popular In CA
39
Area Studies Degrees Awarded
UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the large city of La Jolla. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.
There were roughly 39 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - San Diego
Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 41st out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were about 57 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, area studies degree recipients typically make around $29,316 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in area studies from California State University - Fullerton
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
14th
Most Popular In CA
Located in the large city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 28th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 15 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UCR in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in area studies from University of California - Riverside
