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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region

88 Ranked Colleges
1,234 Degrees Awarded
$34,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Far Western US region, there were 1,234 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,715 and $19,460 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 88 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in area studies.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Area Studies in the Far Western US Region

1
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Scripps College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. Scripps is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 17 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full Scripps College Area Studies Report

2
Coastline Community College crest
Coastline Community College
Fountain Valley, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Coastline Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Fountain Valley, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 107 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at Coastline Community College

3
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 88 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Occidental College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 9 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 Occidental College Area Studies Report

4

Out of the 88 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Hawaii landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Laie, Hawaii, and it awarded 13 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Brigham Young University - Hawaii

5
Willamette crest
Willamette University
Salem, Oregon

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Willamette University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region. This small school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 9 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about Area Studies at Willamette University

6
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

Pitzer College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 3 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Pitzer

7

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 192 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Area Studies at UW Seattle

8

University of Hawaii at Hilo landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Hilo, Hawaii, this small public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at UH Hilo

9
HNU crest
Holy Names University
Oakland, California

With a ranking of #9, Holy Names University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. Holy Names University is a small school located in Oakland, California that handed out 3 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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. 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Holy Names University

10
University of Portland crest
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon

University of Portland landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Portland is a small school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 10 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Portland

11
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 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 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Area Studies at Stanford

12
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 31 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at USFCA

13

University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #13. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 35 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa

14
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 3 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area Studies at Pomona College

15

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 105 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

16

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 103 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCLA Area Studies Report

17
PLU crest
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

Pacific Lutheran University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. PLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tacoma, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Pacific Lutheran University Area Studies Report

18
SPU crest
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 SPU Area Studies Report

19
Reed crest
Reed College
Portland, Oregon

Reed College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.1% 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 Reed

20

With a ranking of #20, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at Cal State Fullerton

21
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, California

Citrus College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Glendora, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Full Citrus College Area Studies Report

22

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 38 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

23

University of Washington - Bothell Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Bothell, Washington, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Washington - Bothell Campus Area Studies Report

24
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

Claremont McKenna College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. Claremont McKenna College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 1.3% 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 87%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Claremont McKenna

25

California State University - Long Beach came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Area Studies Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 48 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, 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.

Read full report on Area Studies at California State University - Long Beach

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