by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 6 degrees and certificates in Irish Studies. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
Studying Irish Studies covers Irish Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Ireland And The Irish Diaspora, From The Early Christian Period To The Present.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, irish studies is a widely-pursued major, with 6 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award irish studies degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 5.
All 6 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 17% of irish studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (1 of 6). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5) and multiracial (1).
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to irish studies, at 4.2 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an irish studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to irish 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 Irish 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, College Faculty Member, Humanities Professor and Gender Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to irish studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Irish 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 irish studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Irish Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,097 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.