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2027 Best Area Studies Schools in Massachusetts

6 Colleges in the United States
191 Area Studies Degrees Awarded
$49,968 Avg Early-Career Salary

Area Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their area studies programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for area studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Area Studies in Massachusetts

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

1
Amherst College crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA

No school ranked higher than Amherst College this year for area studies. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 21 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $49,149 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398. Read more about the area studies program at Amherst College

2
Wellesley College crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA

Students looking for a strong area studies program will find one at Wellesley College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 12 area studies degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $43,231 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,525 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area studies from Wellesley College

3
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #3 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for area studies. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 91 area studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. See the full area studies program report for Harvard University

4
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in area studies, ranking #4. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Williams College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area studies program make about $38,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,615 to complete this degree. See the full area studies program report for Williams College

5
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

A rank of #5 makes Smith College one of the top schools for area studies. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Smith College awarded about 18 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $29,878. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. More information about a degree in area studies from Smith College

6

Brandeis University placed #6 among the best area studies schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 32 area studies degrees were awarded at Brandeis University in the most recent year. Area Studies graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $43,748 early in their careers. Brandeis University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full area studies details for Brandeis University

View All Area Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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