by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in American U.S. Studies explores American/united States Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The United States And Its Pre-Columbian And Colonial Predecessors, And Including The Flow Of Immigrants From Other Societies. Continue reading for the essential details every american u.s. studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering american u.s. studies programs.
In the U.S., american u.s. studies draws strong interest, with 1,156 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best American U.S. Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 135 schools to determine the best overall colleges for american u.s. studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of american u.s. studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for American U.S. Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations american u.s. studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a american u.s. studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a american u.s. studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several american u.s. 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 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 112 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 775 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 186 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 82 |
People currently working in careers related to american u.s. 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in american u.s. studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in american u.s. studies prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to american u.s. studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to american u.s. studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of american u.s. studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 american u.s. studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers american u.s. studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 135 different american u.s. studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased american u.s. studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in american u.s. studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
