2026 Best Area Studies Schools in Missouri
Area Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their area studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for area studies students.
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Best Schools for Area Studies in Missouri
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
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2026 ranking of the best area studies schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $30,716 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
Get the full area studies details for Washington University In St Louis
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 55 area studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Area Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $44,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
Get the full area studies details for University Of Missouri Columbia
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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 · 7 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.