by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Russian Studies covers Russian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The Russian Federation And Its Soviet, Czarist, And Medieval Predecessors And Related Borderlands. Continue reading for the important information every russian studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering russian studies programs.
In the U.S., russian studies is a popular field of study, with 124 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Russian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 42 schools to determine the best overall colleges for russian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of russian studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Russian Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations russian studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a russian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a russian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several russian 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 | 81 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 43 |
People currently working in careers related to russian 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 russian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in russian studies prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to russian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to russian studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of russian studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 russian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers russian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 42 different russian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased russian studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in russian 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 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
