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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia

11 Ranked Colleges
177 Degrees Awarded
$33,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia” ranking - to help you make that 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 Virginia, there were 177 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,514 and $21,358 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. That schools that top this list have a program in area studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 Virginia” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. 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 Virginia

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

Top 11 Most Focused Colleges for Area Studies in Virginia

1
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’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 full report on Area Studies at William & Mary

2
URichmond crest
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Richmond landed the #2 spot on the list. URichmond is a small school located in University of Richmond, Virginia that handed out 19 ’s area studies degrees 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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Area Studies at URichmond

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Commonwealth University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia. 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 more about Area Studies at VCU

4
Randolph - Macon crest
Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Randolph - Macon College landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Ashland, Virginia, and it awarded 3 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Randolph - Macon

5
Emory & Henry College crest
Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory and Henry College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Emory, Virginia, and it awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Emory and Henry College Area Studies Report

6
Washington and Lee crest
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia

With a ranking of #6, Washington and Lee University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 97%.

Read more about Area Studies at Washington and Lee

7
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Full Old Dominion University Area Studies Report

8
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 11 ’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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus

9
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia ranking. GMU is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 10 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full George Mason University Area Studies Report

10
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. Mary Baldwin is a small school located in Staunton, Virginia that handed out 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at Mary Baldwin University

10
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

With a ranking of #10, Shenandoah University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Virginia list. Shenandoah is a small school located in Winchester, Virginia that handed out 0 ’s area studies 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Shenandoah University

Notes and References

References

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