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Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies graduates earn $51,710 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,946 and $68,128. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Ethnic Studies

This page covers Ethnic Studies as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Cultural Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Ethnic Studies is a focused area of study within Cultural Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $51,710 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 681 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 9,022 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $31,459
Median Earnings · 4yr: $51,710
Colleges Offering: 681
Graduates / Year: 9,022
Avg Net Price / yr: $13,587

How Much Do Ethnic Studies Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Ethnic Studies, a typical graduate earns $51,710, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $34,946 and $68,128, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $31,459 at one year out to $51,710 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$31,459

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$51,710

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$51,565

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Ethnic Studies graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$34,946 25th pct.

$51,710 Median

$68,128 75th pct.

A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $51,710 and an estimated $54,348 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.5 years.

Based on outcomes from 484 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 9,022 students who complete Ethnic Studies programs each year, the majority (72%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

72%

Bachelor's 72%

Associate's 10%

Master's 7%

What Can You Do With an Ethnic Studies Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Ethnic Studies graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Cultural Studies Professors pay the most at $85,020/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Cultural Studies Professors earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Cultural Studies Professors

$85,020

$66K $111K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,000 openings/yr 11K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Speaking Instructing Active Listening Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.

↗ +2.0% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Interpreters and Translators

$60,170

$47K $81K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 6,000 openings/yr 52K employed nationally

Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Writing Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.

Top Colleges for Ethnic Studies

Not sure where to study Ethnic Studies? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at University of California-Los Angeles, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public	213	9%	$12,548	$82,511
2	California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public	189	93.5%	$7,021	$59,115
3	University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public	172	41.8%	$14,741	$80,838
4	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public	131	11%	$13,481	$92,446
5	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA · Public	128	65.8%	$17,890	$68,396
6	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public	103	96.4%	$12,278	$68,077
7	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public	100	33%	$16,109	$74,915
8	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public	80	94%	$9,338	$64,876
9	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	70	46.3%	$10,440	$64,403
10	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public	68	39.2%	$14,091	$78,466
11	University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public	67	24.2%	$6,541	$71,588
12	Yale University New Haven, CT · Nonprofit	62	3.9%	$23,777	$100,533
13	University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL · Public	61	77.4%	$10,974	$68,740
14	Windward Community College Kaneohe, HI · Public	59	Open	$8,169	$38,439
15	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI · Public	58	86.6%	$15,664	$57,624
16	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM · Public	56	95.2%	$15,489	$44,792
17	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY · Public	56	58.4%	$3,103	$60,752
18	University of Oregon Eugene, OR · Public	54	88.3%	$22,182	$61,324
19	University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public	52	83.6%	$22,531	$64,762
20	San Diego State University San Diego, CA · Public	51	36.2%	$15,364	$64,909

View all colleges

Ranked by Ethnic Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

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 an Ethnic Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if an Ethnic Studies degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Ethnic Studies Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Ethnic Studies shows 2 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $31,459 at graduation to $51,710 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Wide availability Offered at 681 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $51,710 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Slow job growth Top related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($34,946) and 75th ($68,128) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Ethnic Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Ethnic Studies graduates earn?

$51,710 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $34,946 and $68,128, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for an Ethnic Studies degree?

$31,459 in the first year out. That grows to $51,710 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with an Ethnic Studies degree?

Cultural Studies Professors are one path, and it pays a median of $85,020 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does an Ethnic Studies program take?

Four years of full-time study for an Ethnic Studies bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Ethnic Studies?

681 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is an Ethnic Studies degree worth it?

$51,710 median earnings four years out against $13,587 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Ethnic Studies and Cultural Studies?

Ethnic Studies is the narrower of the two: Cultural Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Ethnic Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Ethnic Studies graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Ethnic Studies graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Ethnic Studies graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Cultural Studies Professors are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.7%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.