by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 785 degrees and certificates in Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign). Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
Studying Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) covers Regional Studies (U.s., Canadian, Foreign). A Program That Focuses On The Defined Geographic Subregions And Subcultures Within Modern And Historical Countries And Societies. Includes Such Topics As Acadian Studies, French Canadian And Quebec Studies, Southern (U.s.) Studies, New England Studies, Southwestern Studies, Northern Studies, And Others.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) is a widely-pursued major, with 785 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) degrees, an average of 98 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 708.
By level, the 785 awards include 1 associate degrees, 75 bachelor’s degrees, 675 master’s degrees and 34 doctorates.
Women earned 33% of regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) degrees and certificates in the latest year (260 of 785). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (310) and Hispanic or Latino (144), and international students earned 191.
The most common regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) credential is the master’s degree: 675 of the 785 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 75 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 675 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 34 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign), at 60.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign), with an average median salary of $47,517; the strongest outlook belongs to Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 6.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Humanities Professor, Women’s Studies Professor, College Faculty Member and Latin American Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign), at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing their program, $62,342 after four years and $64,509 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $62,342 |
| 5 years | $64,509 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to regional studies (u.s., canadian, foreign), with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,318 degrees a year; the largest are American/United States Studies/Civilization (1,217), Asian Studies/Civilization (693) and Area Studies, Other (620). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,217 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 693 |
| Area Studies, Other | 620 |
| East Asian Studies | 559 |
| Latin American Studies | 502 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 318 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.