by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 5 U.S. colleges awarded 49 degrees and certificates in Western European Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Western European 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 Western European Studies explores Western European Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of Historical Western Europe, Defined As Including Britain, Ireland, France, The Low Countries, The Iberian Peninsula, Italy, The Western Mediterranean, And Related Island Groups And Borderlands.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, western european studies is a widely-pursued major, with 49 degrees awarded annually. 5 colleges award western european studies degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 16.
By level, the 49 awards include 10 bachelor’s degrees, 38 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of western european studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (34 of 49). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (30) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Western European Studies Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks western european studies schools within 2 states. In all, 5 colleges offer western european studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Western European Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common western european studies credential is the master’s degree: 38 of the 49 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to western european 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 Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a western european studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to western european 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 Western European 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 Women’s Studies Professor, Adjunct Professor, Asian Studies Professor and College Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to western european studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Western European 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 western european studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Western European Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,054 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.
