by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying German Studies covers German Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Germany, The Neighboring Countries Of Austria And Switzerland, The German Minorities In Neighboring European Countries, And The Historical Areas Of German Influence Across Europe And Overseas. Continue reading for the important information every german studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering german studies programs.
Nationwide, german studies draws strong interest, with 97 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best German Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 30 schools to determine the best overall colleges for german studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of german studies programs later in this article.
Programs in German Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations german studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a german studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a german studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several german 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 | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 79 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to german 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 german studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in german studies prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to german studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to german studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of german 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 german studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers german studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 30 different german studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased german studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in german 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.
