COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Area Studies bachelor's degree at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are below similar programs.
$10,773 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 51.3% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −97% · Negative payoff
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$171,480
$8,000Annual price−$203,480
$16,000Annual price−$235,480
$23,000Current college-wide context−$263,480
$24,000Current college-wide context−$267,480
$32,000Annual price−$299,480
$40,000Annual price−$331,480
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$45,852$9,883 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,433
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,500
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$45,852
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$249/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$23,433Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$38,954Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE92.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE63.2%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?
Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
6.5% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$3,821
Estimated loan payment$249
72borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$45,852 vs. $56,625
$10,773 below the national median for the same field and credential.
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$85,960 median wageVA estimate · 300 jobs · 25-1062$68,000–$106,410 middle 50% of VA wages+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Educational Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
William & Mary
$23,057 higher earnings · $8,250 less debt · $4,337 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $68,909
- Debt
- $15,250
- Annual net price
- $19,096
University of Virginia-Main Campus
$20,118 higher earnings · $500 less debt · $1,868 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $65,970
- Debt
- $23,000
- Annual net price
- $21,565
Columbia University in the City of New York
$51,032 higher earnings · $1,014 less debt · $1,843 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $96,884
- Debt
- $22,486
- Annual net price
- $21,590
Emory University
$29,353 higher earnings · $4,000 less debt · $848 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $75,205
- Debt
- $19,500
- Annual net price
- $22,585
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
54 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →