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2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region

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971 Degrees Awarded
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Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest 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 Southwest region, there were 971 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,908 and $20,361 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in area studies.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region area studies students.

1

Out of the 25 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Fort-Worth, Texas, and it awarded 647 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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

Full Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Area Studies Report

2

Out of the 25 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 107 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Area Studies Report

3
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school awarded 73 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Arizona

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

5
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

Out of the 25 schools in the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #5 spot on the list. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 13 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rice University Area Studies Report

6

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 ASU - Tempe

6

Northeastern State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 9 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 NSU

8

With a ranking of #8, Southern Methodist University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. SMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 ’s 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 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Area Studies at SMU

8
Trinity U crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 more about Area Studies at Trinity U

10

Baylor University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 6 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 91%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Baylor University

10

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso

12

With a ranking of #12, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large 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%. 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 more about Area Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

12
Austin College crest
Austin College
Sherman, Texas

Austin College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Sherman, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at Austin College

14
Southwestern crest
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas

With a ranking of #14, Southwestern University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. Southwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Georgetown, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, 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 Southwestern

15
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 more about Area Studies at University of Houston

16

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

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

New Mexico Highlands University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and it awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Area Studies at New Mexico Highlands University

16

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, 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 87%.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Area Studies Report

16

Texas Christian University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas Christian University is a fairly large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 2 ’s area studies 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Area Studies at Texas Christian University

16

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 2 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 The University of Texas at Dallas

21

Northwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a small public school situated in Alva, Oklahoma. It awarded 1 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Area Studies at NWOSU

21

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. University of North Texas is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 1 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

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 more about Area Studies at University of North Texas

21

Central New Mexico Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 1 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Area Studies Report

24

Dallas Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. Dallas Baptist University is a small school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full DBU Area Studies Report

24

University of Dallas came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Area Studies Major in the Southwest Region ranking. UD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Irving, Texas. It awarded 0 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Dallas

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References

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