by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying African Studies explores African Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The African Continent, Usually With An Emphasis On Africa South Of The Sahara, And Including The African Diasporas Overseas. Continue reading for the essential details every african studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering african studies programs.
Across the country, african studies draws strong interest, with 209 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best African Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 47 schools to determine the best overall colleges for african studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of african studies programs later in this article.
Programs in African Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations african studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a african studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a african studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several african studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 122 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 81 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to african studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in african studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in african studies prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to african studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to african studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of african studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $54,317 |
| 5 years | $64,382 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for african studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers african studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 47 different african studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased african studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in african studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,156 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 705 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 680 |
| Area Studies, Other | 630 |
| East Asian Studies | 581 |
| Latin American Studies | 498 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 317 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
