by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Latino Studies explores Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, And Mexican-American/chicano Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Sociology, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Hispanic American Immigrant Populations Within The U.s. And Canada, Including Mexican-American Studies, Cuban American Studies, Puerto Rican Studies, And Others. Continue reading for the key facts every latino studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering latino studies programs.
Nationwide, latino studies is a widely-pursued major, with 698 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Latino Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 62 schools to determine the best overall colleges for latino studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of latino studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Latino Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations latino studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a latino studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a latino studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several latino 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 563 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 116 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 14 |
People currently working in careers related to latino 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 latino studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying latino studies prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to latino studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to latino studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of latino studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,619 |
| 4 years | $46,128 |
| 5 years | $53,144 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for latino studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers latino studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 62 different latino studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased latino studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering latino studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Women’s Studies | 2,746 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 2,431 |
| African-American/Black Studies | 922 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies | 560 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 517 |
| Disability Studies | 492 |
| Deaf Studies | 398 |
| Asian-American Studies | 172 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies | 76 |
| Folklore Studies | 64 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
