by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying South Asian Studies involves the study of South Asian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of South Asia, Defined As Including Afghanistan, India, The Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, And Sri Lanka And Related Borderlands And Island Groups; And Including The Study Of Migration Patterns And Overseas Diasporas. Examples: [Indian/south Asian Studies]. Continue reading for the important information every south asian studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering south asian studies programs.
Nationwide, south asian studies is a popular field of study, with 38 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best South Asian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 8 schools to determine the best overall colleges for south asian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of south asian studies programs later in this article.
Programs in South Asian Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations south asian studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a south asian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a south asian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several south asian 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 | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to south asian 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 south asian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying south asian studies prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to south asian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to south asian studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of south asian 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 south asian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers south asian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 8 different south asian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased south asian studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering south asian 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.
