by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 177 U.S. colleges awarded 985 degrees and certificates in African American Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best African American Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,619 one year after completing, rising to $54,558 after four years.
A degree in African American Studies covers African-American/black Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Sociology, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The North American Peoples Descended From The African Diaspora; Focusing On The United States, Canada, And The Caribbean, But Also Including Reference To Latin American Elements Of The Diaspora.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, african american studies draws strong interest, with 985 degrees awarded annually. 177 colleges award african american studies degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
By level, the 985 awards include 1 certificates, 3 associate degrees, 784 bachelor’s degrees, 170 master’s degrees and 27 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of african american studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (692 of 985). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Black or African American (650) and multiracial (109), and international students earned 30.
College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best African American Studies Schools ranking, including 10 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks african american studies schools within 15 states. In all, 177 colleges offer african american studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value African American Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common african american studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 784 of the 985 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to african american 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 an african american studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 784 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 170 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 27 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to african american 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 African American 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 Asian Studies Professor, Humanities Professor, Faculty Lecturer and Gender Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to african american studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
African American Studies graduates earn a median $32,619 one year after completing their program, $54,558 after four years and $53,148 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,619 |
| 4 years | $54,558 |
| 5 years | $53,148 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to african american studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
African American Studies has 11 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 8,456 degrees a year; the largest are Women’s Studies (2,703), Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other (2,446) and Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies (744). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Women’s Studies | 2,703 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 2,446 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies | 744 |
| Disability Studies | 597 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 577 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies | 552 |
| Deaf Studies | 480 |
| Asian-American Studies | 160 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies | 76 |
| Folklore Studies | 67 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
