by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 29 U.S. colleges awarded 597 degrees and certificates in Disability Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Disability 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 major in Disability Studies explores Disability Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Nature, Meaning, And Consequences Of What It Is To Be Defined As Disabled And Explores The Historical, Cultural, Economic, Physiological, And Socio-Political Dynamics Of Disability. Includes Instruction In Disability Rights, Legal Issues, And Public Policy; Literature, Philosophy, And The Arts; And/or Research In The Social Sciences, Education, And Health Sciences Addressing Social And Experiential Aspects Of Disability.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, disability studies is a popular field of study, with 597 degrees awarded annually. 29 colleges award disability studies degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 222.
By level, the 597 awards include 18 certificates, 13 associate degrees, 80 bachelor’s degrees, 463 master’s degrees and 12 doctorates.
Women earned 90% of disability studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (538 of 597). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (401) and Hispanic or Latino (76), and international students earned 7.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Disability Studies Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks disability studies schools within 2 states. In all, 29 colleges offer disability studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Disability Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common disability studies credential is the master’s degree: 463 of the 597 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to disability 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 disability studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 13 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 80 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 463 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to disability 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 Disability 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 Professor, Ethnic Studies Teacher, Lecturer and Ethnic Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to disability studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Disability 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 disability studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Disability Studies has 11 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 8,844 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
