by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, women's studies was the 259th most popular major nationwide with 2,868 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 66 over the prior year, a growth of 2.3%.
This year's Best Women's Studies Schools ranking compares 74 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of women's studies programs later in this article.
Women's Studies majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and teaching others how to do something are all required skills for careers related to this major.
women's 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. Once you obtain your degree, additional women's studies certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of women's studies degrees. You can get anything from a in women's studies to the highest women's studies degree, a . Women's Studies programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 women's studies, with approximately 60.5% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for women's 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 women's studies obtain at least doctor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in women's studies have received.
The education level required is different depending on the women's studies career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your women's studies degree? Women's 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 women's studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | 12,700 | 10.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for women's studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for women's studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers women's studies grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Professors | $85,450 |
With over 699 different women's 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 women's studies school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Women's Studies that might interest you.
Explore societal similarities and differences as seen through cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic lenses when you earn one of your degrees in anthropology from Southern New Hampshire University.
Women's Studies is one of 11 different types of Ethnic Studies programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, & Group Studies, Other | 2,142 |
| African American Studies | 1,196 |
| Latino Studies | 883 |
| Ethnic Studies | 673 |
| Native American Studies | 527 |
