by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a area studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their area studies graduates.
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.
Depaul University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid area studies graduates in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $51,340 annually.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying area studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Students who complete the area studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,913.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Area Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $58,917 a year early in their careers.
University Of Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in area studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the area studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,367.
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 · 4 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.