by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in European Studies covers European Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The European Continent, Including The Study Of European Migration Patterns And Colonial Empires. Continue reading for the important information every european studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering european studies programs.
In the U.S., european studies is a widely-pursued major, with 111 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best European Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for european studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of european studies programs later in this article.
Studies in European Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations european studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a european studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a european studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several 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 | 52 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 59 |
People currently working in careers related to 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in european studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in european studies opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to european studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to 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 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 european studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers european studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 28 different european studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased european studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in 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.
