Bachelor's-8% vs national median209 grads tracked
Area Studies at State University of New York at Albany
Ranked 23rd of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,097
middle 50%: $23,814 – $47,631
Median · 5 years out
$57,248
middle 50%: $40,417 – $75,158
Median · 10 years out
$77,901
middle 50%: $57,619 – $104,864
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 SUNY Albany earn a median of $33,097 in year one. Salaries grow to a median of $77,901 after ten years.
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
7.6 yrs
≈ $9,270 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
George Mason University
$59,550 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$57,971 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$57,427 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$57,075 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Lehman College
$56,764 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$56,069 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$56,029 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$55,935 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$55,137 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at State University of New York at Albany
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$123,601 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$118,430 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$113,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$103,319 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Doctorate)
$102,295 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$98,892 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$95,797 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, Other (Bachelor's)
$95,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$94,330 · 5 yrs out