by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 54 degrees and certificates in Comparative Group Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 72% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative Group 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 Comparative Group Studies covers A Program That Focuses On The Comparative Study Of The History, Literature, Sociology, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Different Groups Such As Racial, Gender, Sexual, Class, Ethnic, Geographical, And National. Includes Instruction In Comparative Studies, Comparative Literature, Critical Race Theory, Cultural Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Religious Studies, Science Studies, Social And Cultural Theory, Urban Studies, And Visual Culture.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., comparative group studies is a widely-pursued major, with 54 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award comparative group studies degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 20.
By level, the 54 awards include 39 bachelor’s degrees, 14 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 89% of comparative group studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (48 of 54). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23) and Hispanic or Latino (18), and international students earned 3.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative Group Studies Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks comparative group studies schools within 1 state. In all, 8 colleges offer comparative group studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Comparative Group Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common comparative group studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 39 of the 54 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to comparative group 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 comparative group studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 39 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to comparative group 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 Comparative Group 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, Professor, Black Studies Professor and Ethnic Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to comparative group studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Comparative Group 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 comparative group studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Comparative Group Studies has 11 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 9,387 degrees a year; the largest are Women’s Studies (2,703), Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other (2,446) and African-American/Black Studies (985). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
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