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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Southeast Region

22 Ranked Colleges
115 Degrees Awarded
$30,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Area Studies is the 115th most popular major in the country with 6,966 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,127 and had an average of $20,927 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 983 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,290 and $20,478 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 115 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,213 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular area studies programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The area studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s”.

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

Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region master’s degree area studies students.

1

Out of the 22 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #1 spot on the list. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 14 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Florida International University

2
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 22 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #2 spot on the list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Area Studies at Duke University

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 10 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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 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%.

Full University of Florida Area Studies Report

3

Out of the 22 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Arkansas State University - Main Campus

3
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Mississippi. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s list. Ole Miss is located in University, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Ole Miss Area Studies Report

6

University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 9 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Area Studies Report

7
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Kennesaw, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 KSU Georgia

8
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

With a ranking of #8, The University of Alabama did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s list. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 UA

9
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 University of Virginia - Main Campus

10
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 more about Area Studies at William & Mary

11
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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 86%.

Read more about Area Studies at Appalachian State University

11
Tulane crest
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

With a ranking of #11, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s list. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 92%.

Full Tulane Area Studies Report

13

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus

13
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Area Studies at Georgia State

13
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full GMU Area Studies Report

16
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Florida State University

16
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida

University of Miami landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Located in Coral Gables, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.

Full U Miami Area Studies Report

18

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’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 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

18
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 1 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at ETSU

18
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Vanderbilt

21
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Emory

21
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and it awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at Shepherd University

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