by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 58 U.S. colleges awarded 318 degrees and certificates in Near & Middle Eastern Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Near & Middle Eastern 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 Near & Middle Eastern Studies explores Near And Middle Eastern Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of North Africa, Southwestern Asia, Asia Minor, And The Arabian Peninsula, Related Borderlands And Island Groups, And Including Emigrant And Immigrant Groups. Examples: [Modern Middle Eastern Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, near & middle eastern studies is a widely-pursued major, with 318 degrees awarded annually. 58 colleges award near & middle eastern studies degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 45.
By level, the 318 awards include 3 certificates, 141 bachelor’s degrees, 140 master’s degrees and 34 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of near & middle eastern studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (173 of 318). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (193) and Asian (21), and international students earned 56.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Near & Middle Eastern Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees, 4 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks near & middle eastern studies schools within 4 states. In all, 58 colleges offer near & middle eastern studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Near & Middle Eastern Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common near & middle eastern studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 141 of the 318 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to near & middle eastern 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 Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a near & middle eastern studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 141 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 140 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 34 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to near & middle eastern 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 Near & Middle Eastern 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 Faculty Lecturer, Women’s Studies Professor, Adjunct Professor and Ethnic Studies Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to near & middle eastern studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Near & Middle Eastern 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 near & middle eastern studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Near & Middle Eastern Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,785 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 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
