by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 67 degrees and certificates in Folklore Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Folklore 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 Folklore Studies covers Folklore Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Creativity And Aesthetic Expression In Everyday Life, As Expressed In Narrative, Literature, Performing Arts, Culture, Work, Family And Community. Examples: [Folklore Studies], [Folklore And Mythology], [Folklore And Folklife].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, folklore studies is a popular field of study, with 67 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award folklore studies degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 21.
By level, the 67 awards include 16 bachelor’s degrees, 35 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of folklore studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (46 of 67). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (44) and Hispanic or Latino (8), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Folklore Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks folklore studies schools within 1 state. In all, 8 colleges offer folklore studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Folklore Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common folklore studies credential is the master’s degree: 35 of the 67 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to folklore studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, 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 Speech Clarity.
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How long a folklore studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 16 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 35 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to folklore 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 Folklore 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 Ethnic Studies Professor, Ethnology Professor, Women’s Studies Professor and African Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to folklore studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Folklore 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 folklore studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Folklore Studies has 11 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 9,374 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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