Area Studiesat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

While the career path data points toward academia, the reality is that tenure-track professorships are extraordinarily competitive. A degree in Area Studies from a top public university like UIUC provides a world-class education in critical thinking and global perspectives, but it doesn’t have a built-in recruiting pipeline like engineering or business. Many graduates will find themselves in roles where these skills are assets—think non-profits, government service, or international relations—but these fields often have lower starting salaries and are concentrated in major hubs like D.C. or New York, not the Midwest. Your earnings potential will depend heavily on pursuing graduate school or pairing this major with a practical minor. To maximize your options, plan to aggressively seek out internships with international organizations or government agencies starting your very first year.