by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying French Studies explores French Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of France, Other Francophone Countries Inside And Outside Europe, And The French Colonial Experience And The Associated French Minorities Around The World. Read on to learn the key facts every french studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering french studies programs.
In the U.S., french studies is a popular field of study, with 143 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best French Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 30 schools to determine the best overall colleges for french studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of french studies programs later in this article.
Programs in French Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations french studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a french studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a french studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several french 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 | 106 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 27 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to french 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 french studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in french studies can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to french studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to french studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of french 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 french studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers french studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 30 different french studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased french studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in french 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 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
