by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Central & Eastern European Studies covers Russian, Central European, East European And Eurasian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The Region Encompassing Russia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, And Eurasia, Including The Balkan, Baltic, Caucasus, And Central Asian States That Were Republics Of The Former Soviet Union. Examples: [Russian And East European Studies], [Central And Eastern European Studies], [Cis Studies]. Read on to learn the essential details every central & eastern european studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering central & eastern european studies programs.
Nationwide, central & eastern european studies draws strong interest, with 87 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Central & Eastern European Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for central & eastern european studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of central & eastern european studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Central & Eastern European Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations central & eastern european studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a central & eastern european studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a central & eastern european studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several central & eastern european 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 51 |
People currently working in careers related to central & eastern european 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 central & eastern european studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in central & eastern european studies can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to central & eastern european studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to central & eastern european 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 central & eastern european 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 central & eastern european studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers central & eastern european studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 17 different central & eastern european studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased central & eastern european studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in central & eastern european 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 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
