In the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 83 degrees and certificates in Italian Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
A degree in Italian Studies explores Italian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Modern Italy And Its Predecessors On The Italian Peninsula, Including The Overseas Migrations Of Italian Peoples.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, italian studies is a popular field of study, with 83 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award italian studies degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 11.
By level, the 83 awards include 74 bachelor’s degrees, 7 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of italian studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (56 of 83). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (47) and Hispanic or Latino (19), and international students earned 9.
The most common italian studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 74 of the 83 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to italian 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 Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an italian studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 74 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to italian 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 Italian 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 Hawaiian Studies Lecturer, Women’s Studies Professor, Lecturer and Ethnic Studies Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to italian studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Italian 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 italian studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Italian Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,020 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.