2026 Best Area Studies Schools in Virginia

Area Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for area studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Area Studies Schools in Virginia

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Featured Area Studies Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Best Schools for Area Studies in Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall area studies education in Virginia.

Top Schools in Area Studies

1

College Of William And Mary
Williamsburg, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

33 Area Studies Degrees Awarded

$53,779 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked College Of William And Mary the best school in the country for a degree in area studies. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 33 area studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $53,779 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,250. Read more about the area studies program at College Of William And Mary

2

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

33 Area Studies Degrees Awarded

$35,557 Median Starting Salary

Virginia Commonwealth University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in area studies, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 area studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area studies degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $35,557 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. See the full area studies program report for Virginia Commonwealth University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.