by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 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.
Cornell University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid area studies graduates in New York. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Area Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $81,545 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Fordham University earned it the #2 place for area studies. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Area Studies graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $74,201 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes State University Of New York At New Paltz one of the highest-paying schools for area studies. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a public institution. Early-career area studies graduates from State University Of New York At New Paltz make a median of around $51,093 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in area studies will find them at New York University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Area Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of about $64,679 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in area studies will find them at Hobart William Smith Colleges, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, area studies degree recipients from Hobart William Smith Colleges typically earn about $39,939 annually.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for area studies graduate earnings this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Area Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $78,037 a year early in their careers.
Barnard College earned the #7 position for area studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Area Studies graduates of Barnard College earn a median of about $34,142 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Albany landed the #8 spot for area studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Students who complete the area studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,808.
Vassar College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying area studies schools. Vassar College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Early-career area studies graduates from Vassar College make a median of around $22,741 per year.
Cuny Queens College earned the #10 position for area studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a public institution. Area Studies graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of about $16,733 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 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.