by our College Data Analytics TeamDisability Studies was the 899th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 348 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 26.1% increase in disability studies degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 257.
Our 2023 Best Disability Studies Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for disability studies students. Explore this or one of our many other custom disability studies rankings further below.
A major in disability studies prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include teaching others how to do something and talking to others to convey information effectively.
disability studies degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic disability studies program qualifications, to serve in some disability studies careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of disability studies degrees. Disability Studies programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest disability studies degree you can get. Depending on the disability studies degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to disability studies, with approximately 60.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for disability studies workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 61.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 31.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 4.0% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.3% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.1% |
About 64.5% of workers in careers related to disability studies obtain at least doctor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in disability studies careers have.
This of course varies depending on which disability studies career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your disability studies degree? Disability Studies careers are expected to grow 10.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to disability studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | 12,700 | 10.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for disability studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for disability studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers disability studies grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | $85,450 |
With over 34 different disability studies degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased disability studies school rankings to help you with this.
Disability Studies is one of 11 different types of Ethnic Studies programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Women’s Studies | 2,868 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, & Group Studies, Other | 2,142 |
| African American Studies | 1,196 |
| Latino Studies | 883 |
| Ethnic Studies | 673 |
