Area Studies at William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · Bachelor's Degree · about 38 graduates a year
William & Mary graduates in area studies earn 22% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 19% of one year’s pay at that point.
How William & Mary Compares for Area Studies
All 70 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 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $96,976 | $92,301 | #1 | $43,831 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $96,884 | $92,213 | #2 | $41,479 |
| 3 | Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH | $79,449 | $84,784 | #3 | $50,637 |
| 4 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | $75,966 | $80,732 | #5 | $45,315 |
| 5 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $75,832 | $81,354 | #4 | $35,304 |
| 6 | Fordham University Bronx, NY | $75,563 | $71,920 | #8 | $40,811 |
| 7 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO | $75,230 | $80,662 | #6 | $44,096 |
| 8 | Emory University Atlanta, GA | $75,205 | $77,852 | #7 | $33,549 |
| 9 | Trinity College Hartford, CT | $73,229 | $65,929 | #13 | — |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $70,366 | $64,028 | #17 | $50,728 |
| 11 | Tufts University Medford, MA | $69,037 | $60,794 | #22 | $44,133 |
| 12 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | $68,909 | $62,748 | #20 | $53,779 |
| 13 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ | $68,806 | $60,390 | #25 | — |
| 14 | Amherst College Amherst, MA | $68,618 | $60,425 | #24 | $49,149 |
| 15 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | $67,310 | $63,794 | #18 | $37,019 |
Other Majors at William & Mary by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $127,851 | $84,956 | #55 of 349 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $111,366 | $75,038 | #14 of 1176 |
| Economics | $105,467 | $65,603 | #53 of 368 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $91,065 | $47,270 | #7 of 118 |
| Sociology | $87,655 | — | #2 of 462 |
| Mathematics | $87,170 | $60,494 | #54 of 309 |
| Chemistry | $78,270 | $35,130 | #29 of 209 |
| Physics | $77,863 | — | #55 of 107 |
| Philosophy | $75,423 | — | #5 of 86 |
| Political Science and Government | $72,173 | $41,317 | #102 of 565 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $70,523 | $38,590 | #25 of 207 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $69,118 | $36,703 | #19 of 34 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $68,992 | $27,114 | #31 of 610 |
| History | $63,632 | $31,595 | #39 of 459 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $60,177 | $40,260 | #74 of 225 |
| Psychology | $59,226 | $36,818 | #110 of 1027 |
| English Language and Literature | $57,616 | $40,697 | #90 of 576 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $52,161 | $34,496 | #61 of 67 |
| Biology | $49,644 | $29,851 | #696 of 841 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | $29,752 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do William & Mary area studies graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $53,779 one year after graduating and $68,909 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does William & Mary rank for area studies?
Among 70 colleges reporting earnings for area studies graduates, William & Mary ranks #12 by median pay four years after graduation, and #20 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is area studies at William & Mary worth it?
Its graduates earn 22% more than the national median for area studies ($56,625), and the median federal debt at graduation is $13,000.
← All data for William & Mary · 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.