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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region

67 Ranked Colleges
983 Degrees Awarded
$32,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 6,966 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 115th most popular in the United States. 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.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 67 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in area studies.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Area Studies in the Southeast Region

1
Furman crest
Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina

Out of the 67 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Furman University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Furman University

2
Davidson crest
Davidson College
Davidson, North Carolina

Out of the 67 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Davidson College landed the #2 spot on the list. Davidson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Davidson, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.

Full Davidson Area Studies Report

3

Out of the 67 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 221 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Area Studies Report

4
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee

Out of the 67 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rhodes College landed the #4 spot on the list. Rhodes College is a small school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 11 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Rhodes College

5
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 63 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at William & Mary

6
Berea crest
Berea College
Berea, Kentucky

Berea College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Berea is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berea, Kentucky. It awarded 5 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Area Studies at Berea College

7
Agnes Scott crest
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Agnes Scott College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. Agnes Scott is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Agnes Scott

8
URichmond crest
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, Virginia

University of Richmond came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Richmond

9
Morehouse crest
Morehouse College
Atlanta, Georgia

Morehouse College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Morehouse

10
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 51 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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.

Read full report on Area Studies at Emory

11
Rollins crest
Rollins College
Winter Park, Florida

With a ranking of #11, Rollins College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Rollins College is located in Winter Park, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’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 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Rollins

12
Eckerd crest
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Eckerd College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Eckerd College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Petersburg, Florida. It awarded 5 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Full Eckerd College Area Studies Report

13
Claflin crest
Claflin University
Orangeburg, South Carolina

Claflin University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Orangeburg, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Full Claflin Area Studies Report

14
CCGA crest
College of Coastal Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia

College of Coastal Georgia came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Brunswick, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Full College of Coastal Georgia Area Studies Report

15

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Virginia Commonwealth University

16
Randolph - Macon crest
Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Ashland, Virginia, and it awarded 3 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, 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 87%.

Full Randolph - Macon College Area Studies Report

17
Erskine crest
Erskine College
Due West, South Carolina

Erskine College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #17. Erskine College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Due West, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at Erskine

18
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

With a ranking of #18, Duke University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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

19
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #19. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Vanderbilt University

20
Emory & Henry College crest
Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia

Emory and Henry College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Emory, Virginia, and it awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

Read full report on Area Studies at Emory and Henry College

21
Tulane crest
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

With a ranking of #21, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Tulane University of Louisiana is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 26 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 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%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Tulane

22
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at Wake Forest University

23

University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 47 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia

24

Sewanee - The University of the South ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Sewanee - The University of the South is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sewanee, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Full Sewanee - The University of the South Area Studies Report

25
Oglethorpe crest
Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, Georgia

Oglethorpe University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Southeast Region list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at Oglethorpe University

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