by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a area studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find where area studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send area studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in area studies, no school beat Miami University Oxford this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Area Studies graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $62,041 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Area Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $51,831 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #3 place for area studies. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school located in the city of Milwaukee. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee typically earn about $50,185 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $51,340 annually.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the area studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,279.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #6 position for area studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago typically earn about $43,913 annually.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #7 for area studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $62,545 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #8 spot for area studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students who complete the area studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,917.
Oberlin College landed the #9 spot for area studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from Oberlin College typically earn about $46,571 annually.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their area studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.