by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 17 U.S. colleges awarded 76 degrees and certificates in Gay/Lesbian Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $32,619 one year after completing, rising to $54,558 after four years.
A degree in Gay/Lesbian Studies explores Gay/lesbian Studies. A Program That Focuses On Homosexuality In History, Society, Politics, And Cultural Life; Usually With An Emphasis On The Modern Emergence Of Gays And Lesbians As A Sociocultural Minority Movement, The Identification Of Social, Literary, And Artistic Themes And The Definition Of, And Public Policy And Legal Issues Surrounding, The Gay And Lesbian Community.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, gay/lesbian studies is a popular field of study, with 76 degrees awarded annually. 17 colleges award gay/lesbian studies degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 12.
By level, the 76 awards include 2 certificates, 6 bachelor’s degrees and 68 master’s degrees.
Women earned 78% of gay/lesbian studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (59 of 76). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (52) and Hispanic or Latino (10), and international students earned 2.
The most common gay/lesbian studies credential is the master’s degree: 68 of the 76 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to gay/lesbian 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 Written Expression, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a gay/lesbian studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 68 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to gay/lesbian 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 Gay/Lesbian 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 Adjunct Professor, Black Studies Professor, African Studies Professor and Ethnic Origins Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to gay/lesbian studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Gay/Lesbian 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 gay/lesbian studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Gay/Lesbian Studies has 11 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 9,365 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.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Women’s Studies | 2,703 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 2,446 |
| African-American/Black Studies | 985 |
| 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 |
| Folklore Studies | 67 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.