Western European Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best western european studies schools.
Take an in-depth look at Europe's history through the prism of religion, politics, warfare and culture with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
The western european studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Western European Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Western European Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Western European Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Take an in-depth look at Europe's history through the prism of religion, politics, warfare and culture with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Best Schools for Western European Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the western european studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for western european studies. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 22 western european studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, western european studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,851. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
Get the full western european studies details for Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong western european studies program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 19 western european studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their western european studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $41,903 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,486 to complete this degree.
Get the full western european studies details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
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 · 7 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).