by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 40 U.S. colleges awarded 122 degrees and certificates in Russian Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Russian Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
A degree in Russian Studies covers Russian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The Russian Federation And Its Soviet, Czarist, And Medieval Predecessors And Related Borderlands.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., russian studies is a popular field of study, with 122 degrees awarded annually. 40 colleges award russian studies degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13.
By level, the 122 awards include 84 bachelor’s degrees and 38 master’s degrees.
Women earned 59% of russian studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (72 of 122). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (94) and multiracial (6), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Russian Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks russian studies schools within 2 states. In all, 40 colleges offer russian studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Russian Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common russian studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 84 of the 122 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to russian studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a russian studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 84 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to russian studies, 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 Russian Studies, 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 Gender Studies Lecturer, Black Studies Professor, Humanities Professor and Faculty Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to russian studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Russian Studies 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 russian studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Russian Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,981 degrees a year; the largest are American/United States Studies/Civilization (1,217), Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) (785) and Asian Studies/Civilization (693). 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 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 785 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
