by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 86 degrees and certificates in German Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 85% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
Studying German Studies covers German Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Germany, The Neighboring Countries Of Austria And Switzerland, The German Minorities In Neighboring European Countries, And The Historical Areas Of German Influence Across Europe And Overseas.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, german studies draws strong interest, with 86 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award german studies degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13.
By level, the 86 awards include 3 certificates, 73 bachelor’s degrees, 6 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of german studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (45 of 86). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (60) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 7.
The most common german studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 73 of the 86 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to german 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 Oral Expression, Written Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a german studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 73 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to german 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 German 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 Associate Professor, Ethnic Origins Teacher, Assistant Professor and Ethnology Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to german studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
German 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 german studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
German Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,017 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.