Area Studies at University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Master's Degree · about 18 graduates a year
University of Chicago graduates in area studies earn 2% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 88% of one year’s pay at that point.
How University of Chicago Compares for Area Studies
All 10 colleges reporting area studies earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $116,125 | $105,666 | #1 | — |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $115,583 | $101,783 | #2 | — |
| 3 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | $91,661 | $80,319 | #4 | $64,851 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | $88,197 | $81,122 | #3 | $44,276 |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $81,697 | $77,759 | #5 | $42,327 |
| 6 | George Washington University Washington, DC | $74,265 | $65,075 | #10 | — |
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $71,833 | $65,363 | #9 | — |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY | $71,404 | $67,962 | #7 | $51,233 |
| 9 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $70,631 | $69,394 | #6 | $38,008 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | $64,228 | $67,721 | #8 | $35,862 |
Other Majors at University of Chicago by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $243,256 | $194,606 | #5 of 861 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $190,915 | — |
| Computer Programming | $179,964 | $105,265 | — |
| Computer Science | $169,765 | $135,918 | #18 of 48 |
| Statistics | $161,842 | $115,925 | #2 of 18 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $128,337 | $100,258 | #3 of 115 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | $126,821 | $99,193 | #4 of 13 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $112,727 | $79,721 | #4 of 50 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $83,492 | $66,182 | #28 of 40 |
| Social Sciences | $74,690 | $53,788 | #2 of 9 |
| Social Work | $71,980 | $52,551 | #37 of 279 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $69,033 | $65,351 | #68 of 380 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $60,106 | $26,094 | #29 of 34 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $53,796 | $34,557 | #74 of 94 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do University of Chicago area studies graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $38,008 one year after graduating and $70,631 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does University of Chicago rank for area studies?
Among 10 colleges reporting earnings for area studies graduates, University of Chicago ranks #9 by median pay four years after graduation, and #6 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is area studies at University of Chicago worth it?
Its graduates earn 2% more than the national median for area studies ($68,936), and the median federal debt at graduation is $62,295.
← All data for University of Chicago · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.
