2026 Best Area Studies Schools in Illinois
Area Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for area studies students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Area Studies in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the area studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Area Studies
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in area studies. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 25 area studies degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their area studies degree from University Of Chicago earn around $38,008 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the area studies program at University Of Chicago
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in area studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 25 area studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,332. Students borrow a median of $22,050 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in area studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 21 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
Read more about the area studies program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
More Area Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
