2027 Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools
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.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best area studies schools.
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Best Schools for Area Studies in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in area studies, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Area Studies
Our analysis ranked Duke University the best school in the country for a degree in area studies. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 45 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 140 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,851. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong area studies program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 area studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for area studies. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 32 area studies degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $55,618. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best area studies schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 area studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Area Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #7 position for area studies this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 88 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $31,955 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #8 for area studies this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 17 area studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Area Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,710 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #9 among the best area studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 area studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Area Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #10 for area studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 36 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 area studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $44,276 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,922 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in area studies from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #12 position for area studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 42 area studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their area studies degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $23,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,746 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 24 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $43,831 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #14 spot for area studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 area studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $46,699 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $22,215 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #15 for area studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 57 area studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $42,327. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans.
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California State University Los Angeles ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 area studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $48,403. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 145 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,850.
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New York University placed #18 among the best area studies schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 68 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from New York University earn around $51,233 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #19 among the best area studies schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 10 area studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Area Studies graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 25 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $38,008 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #21 position for area studies this year. 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%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 12 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,332 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,050 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arizona came in at #22 for area studies this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 16 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $31,480 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Florida International University earned the #23 position for area studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 17 area studies degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $19,457. Students borrow a median of $21,544 to complete this degree.
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University Of Guam ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best area studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mangilao, University Of Guam is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. University Of Guam awarded about 16 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $26,880 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,650 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in area studies from University Of Guam
Other Area Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Area Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Area Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 24 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.