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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in Massachusetts

26 Ranked Colleges
303 Degrees Awarded
$35,357 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 6,966 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 115th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,127 and had an average of $20,927 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 424 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,357 and $17,306 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 303 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,029 and $25,475 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” ranking looked at 26 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. That schools that top this list have a program in area studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts”.

Top 26 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in Massachusetts

1
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Smith College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Northampton, 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 34 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Smith Area Studies Report

2
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Williams College landed the #2 spot on the list. Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Williams Area Studies Report

3
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wellesley College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, 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 undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at Wellesley College

4
Brandeis crest
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brandeis University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts. Waltham, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad 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%.

Full Brandeis University Area Studies Report

5
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Amherst College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Area Studies at Amherst

6
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Mt. Holyoke

7
Stonehill crest
Stonehill College
Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Easton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. 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 Stonehill College

8
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Hampshire College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Hampshire College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Area Studies at Hampshire College

9
Wheaton College Massachusetts crest
Wheaton College Massachusetts
Norton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #9, Wheaton College Massachusetts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Norton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at Wheaton College Massachusetts

10
Holy Cross crest
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts

College of the Holy Cross did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Holy Cross

11
Simon's Rock crest
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Bard College at Simon’s Rock did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #11. Bard College at Simon’s Rock is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Area Studies at Simon’s Rock

12
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #12, Tufts University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Tufts University

13
Clark crest
Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts

Clark University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Area Studies at Clark

14

University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #14. UMass Boston is a fairly large public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 13 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UMass Boston Area Studies Report

15
Assumption crest
Assumption University
Worcester, Massachusetts

Assumption University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Assumption is a small school located in Worcester, Massachusetts that handed out 2 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Assumption

16
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #16, Springfield College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Springfield College is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Springfield College

17
Simmons crest
Simmons University
Boston, Massachusetts

Simmons University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. This medium-sized school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad 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 impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Simmons University Area Studies Report

18
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #18, Boston University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Boston U

19
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 12 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Harvard

20
Western New England crest
Western New England University
Springfield, Massachusetts

Western New England University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Springfield, 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 1 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Western New England University Area Studies Report

21
UMass Amherst crest
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 8 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Massachusetts Amherst Area Studies Report

22

University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. Lowell, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full UMass Lowell Area Studies Report

23
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #23. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 97%.

Read more about Area Studies at Northeastern

24
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Area Studies at Boston College

25
Emmanuel Boston crest
Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full Emmanuel College Massachusetts Area Studies Report

25
Suffolk crest
Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts

Suffolk University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #25. Suffolk University is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 0 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Suffolk University

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