Cultural Studies

About Cultural Studies

Wondering whether Cultural Studies is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what Cultural Studies Professors earn and how the role is projected to grow.

Ethnic studies, women's and gender studies, and regional specializations. Interdisciplinary programs focused on identity, culture, power, and social equity research. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $51,710, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 832 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 15,254 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$32,441

Median Earnings · 4yr

$51,710

Colleges Offering

832

Graduates / Year

15,254

Specializations

3

Avg Net Price / yr

$18,749

Is a Cultural Studies Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Solid ROI. Median earnings of $51,710 after 4 years. Against an estimated $74,996 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.5 years.

How Much Do Cultural Studies Majors Earn?

Pay for Cultural Studies graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $32,441 one year after graduation, rising to $51,710 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 832 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With a Cultural Studies Degree?

Career Paths for Cultural Studies Graduates

Studying Cultural Studies does not lock you into one job title. It opens 2 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Cultural Studies Professors pays the most among them at a median $85,020 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what Interpreters and Translators typically earn and how the field is trending.

Cultural Studies Specializations

Cultural Studies spans 3 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $51,710 to $56,625 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an Area Studies program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Cultural Studies

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Cultural Studies, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for University of California-Los Angeles.

Ranked by number of Cultural Studies graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Cultural Studies Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Cultural Studies degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Cultural Studies Degree: Pros & Cons

Cultural Studies is a mixed case: real strengths, offset by real trade-offs, and neither side is large enough to settle the decision on its own. All 4 points below are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, and IPEDS graduate counts, with no editorial opinion added.

Cultural Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions