by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 32 U.S. colleges awarded 159 degrees and certificates in French Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 84% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best French 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 French Studies explores French Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of France, Other Francophone Countries Inside And Outside Europe, And The French Colonial Experience And The Associated French Minorities Around The World.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., french studies is a popular field of study, with 159 degrees awarded annually. 32 colleges award french studies degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 19.
By level, the 159 awards include 133 bachelor’s degrees, 20 master’s degrees and 6 doctorates.
Women earned 80% of french studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (127 of 159). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (99) and Hispanic or Latino (13), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best French Studies Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks french studies schools within 1 state. In all, 32 colleges offer french studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value French Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common french studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 133 of the 159 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to french studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a french studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 133 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 20 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to french 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 French 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, Associate Professor, College Faculty Member and Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to french studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
French 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 french studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
French Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,944 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 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
