by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Latin American & Caribbean Studies covers Latin American And Caribbean Studies. An Integrated Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The Peoples And Countries Of The Latin American And Caribbean Region. Continue reading for the important information every latin american & caribbean studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering latin american & caribbean studies programs.
Across the country, latin american & caribbean studies is a popular field of study, with 88 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Latin American & Caribbean Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 22 schools to determine the best overall colleges for latin american & caribbean studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of latin american & caribbean studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Latin American & Caribbean Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations latin american & caribbean studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a latin american & caribbean studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a latin american & caribbean studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several latin american & caribbean 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 | 53 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 35 |
People currently working in careers related to latin american & caribbean 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 latin american & caribbean studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying latin american & caribbean studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to latin american & caribbean studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to latin american & caribbean studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of latin american & caribbean 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 latin american & caribbean studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers latin american & caribbean studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 22 different latin american & caribbean studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased latin american & caribbean studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering latin american & caribbean 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.
