by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 50 U.S. colleges awarded 206 degrees and certificates in African Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best African Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
Studying African Studies explores African Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The African Continent, Usually With An Emphasis On Africa South Of The Sahara, And Including The African Diasporas Overseas.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, african studies draws strong interest, with 206 degrees awarded annually. 50 colleges award african studies degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 15.
By level, the 206 awards include 1 certificates, 98 bachelor’s degrees, 103 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of african studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (144 of 206). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Black or African American (90) and White (35), and international students earned 30.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best African Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks african studies schools within 2 states. In all, 50 colleges offer african studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value African Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common african studies credential is the master’s degree: 103 of the 206 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to african studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an african studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 98 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 103 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to african studies, at 60.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to African Studies, with an average median salary of $47,517; the strongest outlook belongs to Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 6.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Women’s Studies Professor, College Faculty Member, Ethnic Origins Teacher and Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to african studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
African Studies graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing their program, $62,342 after four years and $64,509 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $62,342 |
| 5 years | $64,509 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to african studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
African Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,897 degrees a year; the largest are American/United States Studies/Civilization (1,217), Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) (785) and Asian Studies/Civilization (693). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,217 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 785 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 693 |
| Area Studies, Other | 620 |
| East Asian Studies | 559 |
| Latin American Studies | 502 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 318 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
