by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Commonwealth Studies explores Commonwealth Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples And Countries Comprising Components Of The Historical British Empire And Modern British Commonwealth, Including Migration Patterns, Shared Sociocultural And Political Features And Problems, And Contemporary Relations. Continue reading for the key facts every commonwealth studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering commonwealth studies programs.
Across the country, commonwealth studies draws strong interest, with 1 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Commonwealth Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for commonwealth studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of commonwealth studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Commonwealth Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations commonwealth studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a commonwealth studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a commonwealth studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several commonwealth 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to commonwealth 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 commonwealth studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying commonwealth studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to commonwealth studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to commonwealth 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 commonwealth studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 commonwealth studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers commonwealth studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 1 different commonwealth studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased commonwealth studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering commonwealth 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.
