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2026 Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Master’s Degree Schools

19 Colleges in the United States
2,123 Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Degrees Awarded
$45,472 Avg Early-Career Salary

Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 832 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies in the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies

1
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 66 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Duke University

2
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Students looking for a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Harvard University

3
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 128 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Georgetown University earn around $64,782 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Georgetown University

4

University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $49,505 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,045 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of California Berkeley

5
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 27 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $26,198. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of Florida

6
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University landed the #6 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 68 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $53,756 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,107 to complete this degree. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Yale University

7
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University placed #7 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 30 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Princeton University

8
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University landed the #8 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $41,156 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Stanford University

9

San Jose State University placed #9 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 17 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for San Jose State University

10

Indiana University Bloomington landed the #10 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 36 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $68,501. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $21,309 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Indiana University Bloomington

11

Ohio University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 94 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from Ohio University Main Campus

12

University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #12 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $43,315 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

13
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University earned the #13 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 33 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Brown University earn around $38,671 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Brown University

14
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco earned the #14 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 16 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $65,223. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of San Francisco

15

Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #15 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 80 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $51,133 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

16

The University Of Alabama placed #16 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. About 24 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $50,740 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from The University Of Alabama

17

San Francisco State University landed the #17 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $31,001. Students borrow a median of $17,875 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for San Francisco State University

18

University Of California San Diego placed #18 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 29 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $30,984. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $12,485 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California San Diego

19

The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #19 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 57 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $46,180 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $22,575 in student loans. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from The University Of Texas At Austin

20

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #20 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 71 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $24,726 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,485 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of California Los Angeles

21

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 427 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $28,841. Typical student debt for the program is $20,745. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from University Of Wisconsin Madison

22

University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 18 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for University Of Mississippi Main Campus

23
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University earned the #23 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 81 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of $51,233 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at New York University

24

Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #24 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 63 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $42,638 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $22,135 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Columbia University In The City Of New York

25

Southern Connecticut State University earned the #25 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 13 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Southern Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $50,876 in their early career. Southern Connecticut State University graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Southern Connecticut State University

Rest of the Top 37 Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies education:

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32
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY
33
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37

Other Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies
Associate's Degrees in Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies
View All Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 832 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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