by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Demography & Population Studies covers Demography. Read on to learn the key facts every demography & population studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering demography & population studies programs.
Nationwide, demography & population studies is a widely-pursued major, with 112 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Demography & Population Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for demography & population studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of demography & population studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Demography & Population Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations demography & population studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a demography & population studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a demography & population studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several demography & population 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 91 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 21 |
People currently working in careers related to demography & population studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Master’s degree | 15.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in demography & population studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in demography & population studies prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to demography & population studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to demography & population studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Salaries for demography & population studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers demography & population studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
With 14 different demography & population studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased demography & population studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in demography & population studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Demography and Population Studies | 112 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science and Government | 44,942 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 13,035 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
