2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k)
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Area Studies is the 106th most popular major in the country with 6,820 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,036 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 71 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.
Stanford also took the #3 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Harvard has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562.
Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 24 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Yale also took the #8 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brown University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Brown has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbia is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 47 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194.
Read more about Area Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 25 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UChicago also took the #12 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Cornell University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Cornell also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Georgetown University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 123 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #11, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #12, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
William & Mary came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800.
Trinity College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Trinity Bantams is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hartford, Connecticut. It awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Bantams are $17,830.
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 14 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.
The City College of New York ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. The City College of New York is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 4 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Area Studies at The City College of New York
With a ranking of #24, Florida International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Area Studies at Florida International University
University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia - Main Campus are $32,394.
Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Area Studies Report
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Best Area Studies Master's Degree Schools
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Area Studies students with family income $48-$75k
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k)
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Area Studies students with family income $75-$110k
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.
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