by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 127 U.S. colleges awarded 1,217 degrees and certificates in American U.S. Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best American U.S. 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.
A major in American U.S. Studies explores American/united States Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The United States And Its Pre-Columbian And Colonial Predecessors, And Including The Flow Of Immigrants From Other Societies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., american u.s. studies draws strong interest, with 1,217 degrees awarded annually. 127 colleges award american u.s. studies degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 118.
By level, the 1,217 awards include 122 associate degrees, 849 bachelor’s degrees, 161 master’s degrees and 85 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of american u.s. studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (768 of 1,217). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (610) and Hispanic or Latino (231), and international students earned 46.
College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best American U.S. Studies Schools ranking, including 23 for bachelor’s degrees, 3 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks american u.s. studies schools within 14 states. In all, 127 colleges offer american u.s. studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value American U.S. Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common american u.s. studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 849 of the 1,217 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to american u.s. 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 Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an american u.s. studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 122 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 849 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 161 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 85 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to american u.s. 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 American U.S. 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 Latin American Studies Professor, University Faculty Member, Ethnology Professor and Gender Studies Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to american u.s. studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
American U.S. 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 american u.s. studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
American U.S. Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 4,886 degrees a year; the largest are Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) (785), Asian Studies/Civilization (693) and Area Studies, Other (620). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
