by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 100 U.S. colleges awarded 502 degrees and certificates in Latin American Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Latin American 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 major in Latin American Studies explores Latin American Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Hispanic Peoples Of The North And South American Continents Outside Canada And The United States, Including The Study Of The Pre-Columbian Period And The Flow Of Immigrants From Other Societies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., latin american studies is a widely-pursued major, with 502 degrees awarded annually. 100 colleges award latin american studies degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 27.
By level, the 502 awards include 2 associate degrees, 269 bachelor’s degrees, 221 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of latin american studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (355 of 502). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (295) and White (102), and international students earned 70.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Latin American Studies Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks latin american studies schools within 6 states. In all, 100 colleges offer latin american studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Latin American Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common latin american studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 269 of the 502 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to latin american 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 Written Expression, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a latin american studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 269 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 221 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to latin american 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 Latin American 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 Gender Studies Lecturer, University Faculty Member, Faculty Lecturer and Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to latin american studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Latin American 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 latin american studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Latin American Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,601 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 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 318 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
