2026 Best Area Studies Schools in Arizona

Area Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 4 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 Area Studies Schools in Arizona

Best Schools for Area Studies in Arizona

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall area studies education in Arizona.

Top Schools in Area Studies

1

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

26 Area Studies Degrees Awarded

$55,876 Median Starting Salary

Arizona State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best area studies schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arizona State University awarded about 26 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. See the full area studies program report for Arizona State University

2

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

49 Area Studies Degrees Awarded

$31,480 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong area studies program will find one at University Of Arizona, which ranked #2. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 area studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from University Of Arizona earn around $31,480 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Get the full area studies details for University Of Arizona

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.