Area Studies: what it pays, state by state
34 states teach this at certificate or associate level. The work pays most in New Hampshire, at a median of $125,450 a year.
| State | What the work pays | Schools | Reporting earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $125,450 | 1 | 0 |
| Kansas | $107,120 | 3 | 0 |
| California | $105,220 | 39 | 0 |
| New York | $101,800 | 3 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | $100,470 | 2 | 0 |
| New Jersey | $97,500 | 3 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,010 | 12 | 0 |
| Maryland | $91,330 | 3 | 0 |
| Michigan | $87,840 | 5 | 0 |
| Virginia | $85,960 | 1 | 0 |
| Indiana | $84,970 | 2 | 0 |
| Minnesota | $81,580 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington | $81,410 | 1 | 0 |
| Oregon | $80,310 | 1 | 0 |
| Ohio | $80,060 | 6 | 0 |
| Colorado | $79,190 | 1 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 | 4 | 0 |
| Georgia | $77,630 | 5 | 0 |
| Wyoming | $76,170 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona | $75,680 | 5 | 0 |
| Tennessee | $75,060 | 1 | 0 |
| Kentucky | $74,690 | 6 | 0 |
| Texas | $72,250 | 1 | 0 |
| West Virginia | $71,200 | 1 | 0 |
| Florida | $66,520 | 1 | 0 |
| North Carolina | $66,470 | 1 | 0 |
| South Carolina | $64,500 | 1 | 0 |
| Arkansas | — | 1 | 0 |
| Hawaii | — | 1 | 0 |
| Idaho | — | 1 | 0 |
| Missouri | — | 3 | 0 |
| New Mexico | — | 2 | 0 |
| Nevada | — | 1 | 0 |
| South Dakota | — | 1 | 0 |
A dash under earnings or debt means the U.S. Department of Education has not published a figure for that program — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates, which covers about four of every five programs. It never means zero, and it says nothing about whether the program is any good. Where a figure is shown, the number of graduates behind it is shown with it.
Email me when these figures change
The U.S. Department of Education publishes new cost, debt and earnings figures once a year, and every number on this page changes at once. One email when that happens for Area Studies — nothing else, and nothing in between.
Programs: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, released 2026-06-10. Occupation wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.