College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts

26 Ranked Colleges
$35,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 6,257 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 115th most popular in the United States. In , area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $33,127 and had an average of $22,500 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 365 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,357 and $18,200 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their area studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Area Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts area studies students.

Top 26 Most Focused Colleges for Area Studies in Massachusetts

1
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Smith College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts. Smith is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northampton, Massachusetts. It awarded 21 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Smith College Area Studies Report

2
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Williams College landed the #2 spot on the list. Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Williams

3
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wellesley College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 28 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Wellesley College

4
Brandeis crest
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brandeis University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Brandeis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at Brandeis University

5
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Amherst College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts. Amherst College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 27 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Area Studies at Amherst College

6
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Mount Holyoke College

7
Stonehill crest
Stonehill College
Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Easton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Stonehill College Area Studies Report

8
Hampshire crest
Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Hampshire College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Hampshire is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Hampshire College

9
Wheaton College Massachusetts crest
Wheaton College Massachusetts
Norton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #9, Wheaton College Massachusetts did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Norton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Wheaton College Massachusetts

10
Holy Cross crest
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts

College of the Holy Cross came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full Holy Cross Area Studies Report

11
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 95 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Area Studies at Harvard University

12
Simon's Rock crest
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #12, Bard College at Simon’s Rock did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Simon’s Rock is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It awarded 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Bard College at Simon’s Rock Area Studies Report

13
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #13, Tufts University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Medford, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Area Studies at Tufts

14

University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. UMass Boston is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Massachusetts - Boston

15
Clark crest
Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Clark University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Clark University is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Area Studies at Clark

16
Assumption crest
Assumption University
Worcester, Massachusetts

Assumption University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Assumption

17
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Springfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 8 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Springfield College Area Studies Report

18
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #18, Boston University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full Boston U Area Studies Report

19
Simmons crest
Simmons University
Boston, Massachusetts

Simmons University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Simmons is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at Simmons University

20
Western New England crest
Western New England University
Springfield, Massachusetts

Western New England University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Western New England

21

University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. This large school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 6 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UMass Amherst Area Studies Report

22

University of Massachusetts - Lowell ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. UMass Lowell is a fairly large school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at UMass Lowell

23
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #23. Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Boston College

24
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at Northeastern University

25
Suffolk crest
Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts

Suffolk University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Suffolk Area Studies Report

25
Emmanuel Boston crest
Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Emmanuel Boston

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options