by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Italian Studies explores Italian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Modern Italy And Its Predecessors On The Italian Peninsula, Including The Overseas Migrations Of Italian Peoples. Read on to learn the key facts every italian studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering italian studies programs.
Across the country, italian studies is a popular field of study, with 71 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Italian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 25 schools to determine the best overall colleges for italian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of italian studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Italian Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations italian studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a italian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a italian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several italian 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 | 62 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to italian 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 italian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in italian studies prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to italian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to italian 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 italian 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 italian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers italian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 25 different italian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased italian studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in italian 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.
