by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Latin American Studies explores Latin American Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Hispanic Peoples Of The North And South American Continents Outside Canada And The United States, Including The Study Of The Pre-Columbian Period And The Flow Of Immigrants From Other Societies. Read on to learn the key facts every latin american studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering latin american studies programs.
In the U.S., latin american studies is a widely-pursued major, with 498 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Latin American Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 107 schools to determine the best overall colleges for latin american studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of latin american studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Latin American Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations latin american studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a latin american studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a latin american studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several latin american 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 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 252 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 236 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to latin american 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 studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying latin american studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to latin american studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to latin american 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 latin american 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 latin american studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers latin american studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 107 different latin american studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased latin american studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in latin american 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 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 317 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
