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 schools below stand out for the salaries their area studies graduates go on to command.
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.
Our analysis ranked Towson University the top school for area studies graduate earnings in Maryland. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a public institution. Early-career area studies graduates from Towson University make a median of around $69,096 per year.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying area studies schools. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College typically earn about $48,650 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Area Studies graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $64,545 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore County one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. Area Studies graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $50,038 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries area studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, 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.