by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 71 degrees and certificates in Demography & Population Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Demography & Population Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Its 11 related occupations pay an average median salary of $97,231 a year.
A degree in Demography & Population Studies covers Demography.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, demography & population studies is a widely-pursued major, with 71 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award demography & population studies degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 31.
By level, the 71 awards include 1 bachelor’s degrees, 57 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 76% of demography & population studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (54 of 71). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23) and Hispanic or Latino (15), and international students earned 14.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Demography & Population Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. In all, 12 colleges offer demography & population studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Demography & Population Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common demography & population studies credential is the master’s degree: 57 of the 71 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to demography & population studies call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a demography & population studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 57 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to demography & population studies, at 36.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Master’s degree | 15.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Demography & Population Studies, with an average median salary of $97,231; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Sociology Instructor, Social Organization Professor, Adjunct Professor and Professor.
The occupation related to demography & population studies with the most projected jobs is Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 730,797.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The highest-paying occupation related to demography & population studies is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
Demography & Population Studies includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Demography and Population Studies (71). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 188,125 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Sociology (30,816). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Demography and Population Studies | 71 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
