Bachelor's+1% vs national median543 grads tracked
Area Studies at University of Michigan
Ranked 13th of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,957
middle 50%: $26,564 – $55,075
Median · 5 years out
$62,265
middle 50%: $42,605 – $87,877
Median · 10 years out
$85,062
middle 50%: $56,735 – $137,686
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Area Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Area Studies graduates from the University of Michigan see a median starting salary of $40k. Earnings increase to $62k by year five and $85k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,077 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Mary Washington
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
Connecticut College
$63,769 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$63,418 · 5 yrs out
Carleton College
$62,643 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$62,093 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$61,978 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$61,940 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$61,903 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Brandywine
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Michigan
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$240,526 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$193,286 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$162,338 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,020 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$144,865 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$139,695 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$137,498 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,470 · 5 yrs out