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2024 Best Area Studies Schools in Massachusetts

9 Colleges in Massachusetts
424 Area Studies Degrees Awarded
$35,357 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in area studies, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #115 in the country in terms of popularity. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual looked at 9 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Area Studies Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 424 degrees in area studies to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Area Studies School

Best Area Studies Schools in Massachusetts The area studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Area Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Area Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Area Studies Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Area Studies
Master's Degrees in Area Studies
Doctor's Degrees in Area Studies

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Area Studies Schools in Massachusetts list to help you make the college decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Area Studies in Massachusetts

If you aren't 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.

10 Top Massachusetts Schools in Area Studies

1
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$36,749 Median Starting Salary
$9,725 Median Student Debt

It is difficult to beat Wellesley College if you wish to pursue a degree in area studies. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Wellesley is a great college overall.

There were about 23 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the area studies program state that they receive average early career earnings of $36,749.

More information about a degree in area studies from Wellesley College

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
70 Area Studies Degrees Awarded
$38,853 Median Starting Salary

It is hard to beat Brandeis University if you want to pursue a degree in area studies. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 14th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were roughly 70 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the area studies degree program at Brandeis University make $3,496 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in area studies from Brandeis University

3
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$33,157 Median Starting Salary
$13,500 Median Student Debt

Tufts University is a great decision for students pursuing a degree in area studies. Tufts is a large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Medford. A Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Tufts is a great university overall.

There were about 28 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the area studies program make about $33,157 for their early career.

More information about a degree in area studies from Tufts University

4
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
11th Most Popular In MA

Every student who is interested in area studies has to take a look at Amherst College. Amherst is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Amherst. A Best Colleges rank of #65 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Amherst is a great college overall.

There were roughly 12 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Amherst in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in area studies from Amherst College

5
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
34 Area Studies Degrees Awarded
$30,077 Median Starting Salary

Smith is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Northampton. This college ranks 19th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 34 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Smith in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the area studies program state that they receive average early career income of $30,077.

More information about a degree in area studies from Smith College

6
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #68 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Williams is a great college overall.

There were approximately 24 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Williams in the most recent data year. Area Studies degree recipients from Williams College receive an earnings boost of around $2,591 over the average earnings of area studies graduates.

More information about a degree in area studies from Williams College

7
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
14th Most Popular In MA

Located in the large suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 36th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 6 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in area studies from Wheaton College Massachusetts

8
Graduate Certificate Highest Degree Type
13th Most Popular In MA
22.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #81 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UMass Amherst is a great university overall.

There were approximately 18 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in area studies from University of Massachusetts Amherst

8
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
9th Most Popular In MA
5.9% Growth in Graduates

Mt. Holyoke is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of South Hadley. This college ranks 20th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 17 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Mt. Holyoke in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in area studies from Mount Holyoke College

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
8th Most Popular In MA

UMass Boston is a large public university located in the large city of Boston. This university ranks 24th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 20 area studies students who graduated with this degree at UMass Boston in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in area studies from University of Massachusetts - Boston

Best Area Studies Colleges in the New England Region

Explore all the Best Area Studies Colleges in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Connecticut 241 217
New Hampshire 210 60
Maine 202 75
Rhode Island 200 107
Vermont 194 45

View All Rankings >

Area Studies is one of 2 different types of Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies programs to choose from.

Area Studies Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
American U.S. Studies 100
Near & Middle Eastern Studies 78
East Asian Studies 76
Asian Studies 38
Latin American Studies 34
Central & Eastern European Studies 18
German Studies 13
Russian Studies 12
Italian Studies 12
South Asian Studies 11

View All Area Studies Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Ethnic Studies 300

View All Area Studies Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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