WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-15% vs national median573 grads tracked

Area Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University

Ranked 43rd of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$32,498
middle 50%: $23,953 – $43,822
Median · 5 years out
$52,551
middle 50%: $38,344 – $68,122
Median · 10 years out
$69,690
middle 50%: $48,798 – $99,738

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

Graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University's bachelor's program in Area Studies earn a median $32,498 one year after graduating, rising to $69,690 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% below the national median of $61,940 for this field, ranking 43rd of 67 reporting programs.

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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,897 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Oregon
$53,219 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$53,081 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$52,989 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$52,793 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$52,745 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$51,576 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$50,572 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$50,539 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$50,311 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Compare universities
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Compare universities