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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k)

145 Ranked Colleges
4,788 Degrees Awarded
$32,162 Avg Salary
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,788 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 145 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the area studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The area studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Out of the 145 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #1 spot on the list. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 46 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $2,167 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Yale.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Yale

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,959 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Stanford University

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $3,411 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Harvard University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Area Studies at Harvard University

#4

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 29 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $11,832 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full WUSTL Area Studies Report

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 145 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $6,452 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern University Area Studies Report

#6

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Williams College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Williamstown, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Williams also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $7,134 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Williams College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Area Studies at Williams

#7

Amherst College

Amherst, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #7, Amherst College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Amherst also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $8,219 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Amherst College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at Amherst

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,887 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Columbia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York

#9

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 22 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Vanderbilt has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt University is $8,086 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Vanderbilt University Area Studies Report

#10

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Cornell University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cornell is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 54 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cornell has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,869 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cornell.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Cornell

#11

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 78 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Brown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Brown is $11,689 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Area Studies at Brown University

#12

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UChicago has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $7,934 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Chicago Area Studies Report

#13

Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire

Dartmouth College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Dartmouth College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Hanover, New Hampshire. It awarded 41 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Dartmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,044 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Dartmouth.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Dartmouth College

#14

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Wellesley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wellesley also took the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wellesley College is $14,229 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Wellesley

#15

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Georgetown is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Georgetown has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,933 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Georgetown.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Georgetown University

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 193 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $9,694 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Area Studies Report

#17

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $17,768 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Notre Dame Area Studies Report

#18

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine

Bowdoin College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. Brunswick, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

Bowdoin also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Bowdoin is $14,539 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bowdoin Area Studies Report

#19

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

University of California - Berkeley ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 103 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $13,081 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

#20

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 8 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $9,654 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Purdue University - Main Campus

#21

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

William & Mary also claimed a top spot on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $11,721 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Area Studies at William & Mary

#22

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 247 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNC Chapel Hill is also in the top of our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for UNC Chapel Hill is $11,060 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#23

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $10,028 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $13,227 for bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Madison Area Studies Report

#25

Middlebury College

Middlebury, Vermont

Middlebury College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Middlebury is located in Middlebury, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Middlebury excels when it comes to area studies quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Middlebury College is $14,002 for Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Middlebury

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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.

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