by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 76 degrees and certificates in Central & Eastern European Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 71% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Central & Eastern European 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 degree in Central & Eastern European Studies covers Russian, Central European, East European And Eurasian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The Region Encompassing Russia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, And Eurasia, Including The Balkan, Baltic, Caucasus, And Central Asian States That Were Republics Of The Former Soviet Union. Examples: [Russian And East European Studies], [Central And Eastern European Studies], [Cis Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, central & eastern european studies draws strong interest, with 76 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award central & eastern european studies degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 21.
By level, the 76 awards include 22 bachelor’s degrees and 54 master’s degrees.
Women earned 64% of central & eastern european studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (49 of 76). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (52) and multiracial (8), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Central & Eastern European Studies Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks central & eastern european studies schools within 4 states. In all, 14 colleges offer central & eastern european studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Central & Eastern European Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common central & eastern european studies credential is the master’s degree: 54 of the 76 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to central & eastern european 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 a central & eastern european studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 22 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 54 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to central & eastern european 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 Central & Eastern European 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 Ethnic Origins Teacher, University Faculty Member, African Studies Professor and Humanities Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to central & eastern european studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Central & Eastern European 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 central & eastern european studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Central & Eastern European Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,027 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 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
