by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Western European Studies explores Western European Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of Historical Western Europe, Defined As Including Britain, Ireland, France, The Low Countries, The Iberian Peninsula, Italy, The Western Mediterranean, And Related Island Groups And Borderlands. Read on to learn the essential details every western european studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering western european studies programs.
Nationwide, western european studies is a widely-pursued major, with 60 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Western European Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for western european studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of western european studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Western European Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations western european studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a western european studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a western european studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several western european 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 | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 53 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to western european 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in western european studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying western european studies can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to western european studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to western european studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of western european 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 western european studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers western european studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 6 different western european studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased western european studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering western european 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.
