by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for area studies students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,323 master's degrees in area studies during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Your choice of area studies for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality area studies program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for area studies students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Area Studies Master's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in area studies.
It's difficult to beat Yale University if you want to pursue a master's degree in area studies. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in area studies from Yale University
Georgetown University is a great option for individuals pursuing a master's degree in area studies. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those area studies students who get their master's degree from Georgetown University make $18,672 more than the standard area studies student.
More information about a master’s in area studies from Georgetown University
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in area studies needs to take a look at Brown University. Located in the city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in area studies from Brown University
Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in area studies. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduating, area studies master's recipients typically earn an average of $42,327 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in area studies from Columbia University in the City of New York
USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in area studies from University of Southern California
Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the area studies major at New York University make $5,054 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in area studies from New York University
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in area studies from University of California - Los Angeles
Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the area studies program earn around $44,276 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in area studies from University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the area studies program state that they receive average early career income of $46,699.
More information about a master’s in area studies from The University of Texas at Austin
Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in area studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
View the Best Area Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 2 majors within the Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies area of study, Area Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 383 |
| Latin American Studies | 176 |
| American U.S. Studies | 171 |
| East Asian Studies | 149 |
| Near & Middle Eastern Studies | 122 |
| Asian Studies | 55 |
| Western European Studies | 40 |
| Central & Eastern European Studies | 36 |
| African Studies | 28 |
| Area Studies, Other | 26 |
