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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major

123 Ranked Colleges
1,450 Degrees Awarded
$46,380 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Area Studies Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,450 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major” ranking analyzed 123 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their area studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major

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

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major. Fort-Worth, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 482 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Area Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

2
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 106 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, 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 94%.

Read more about Area Studies at Georgetown University

3
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Out of the 123 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Brown University landed the #3 spot on the list. Brown is a fairly large school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 20 masters’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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at Brown University

4
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 28 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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 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 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Stanford University

5
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 55 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Harvard University Area Studies Report

6
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

With a ranking of #6, Yale University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major list. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Yale University

7
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #7. University of San Francisco is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 17 masters’s area studies degrees 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at USFCA

8
UOG crest
University of Guam
Mangilao, <nil>

With a ranking of #8, University of Guam did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major list. University of Guam is a small school located in Mangilao, that handed out 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at UOG

9
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Chicago

10
NSU crest
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. NSU is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 7 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at Northeastern State University

11

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Columbia Area Studies Report

12
NYU crest
New York University
New York, New York

New York University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 62 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full NYU Area Studies Report

13
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #13. Princeton University is a medium-sized school located in Princeton, New Jersey that handed out 7 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Princeton

14

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this fairly large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa

15

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #15. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Area Studies Report

16
New Mexico Highlands University crest
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico

With a ranking of #16, New Mexico Highlands University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major list. Las Vegas, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at New Mexico Highlands University

17
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

With a ranking of #17, Pepperdine University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major list. Located in Malibu, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Pepperdine University Area Studies Report

18

Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Alva, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at Northwestern Oklahoma State University

19

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 16 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on Area Studies at Cal State LA

20
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey

Seton Hall University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Seton Hall is a private not-for-profit institution located in South Orange, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Seton Hall Area Studies Report

21
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 26 masters’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Area Studies at IU Bloomington

22
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking, coming in at #22. UW is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Wyoming

23

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

24
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. The Graduate Center is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Area Studies at The Graduate Center

25

University of New Mexico - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Area Studies Major ranking. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at UNM

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