Ethnic and Cultural Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Ethnic and Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to the critical examination of identity, power, and representation across diverse communities. It explores the historical, social, and political dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and cultural expression, fostering a deeper understanding of how these factors shape individual and collective experiences.
- Intersectionality: Analyzes how overlapping identities—such as race, gender, class, and sexuality—interact to influence social experiences and systemic inequalities.
- Cultural Representation: Investigates how cultures are portrayed in media, literature, and public discourse, and the implications of these narratives on perception and inclusion.
- Historical Context of Marginalized Groups: Traces the development and resilience of communities historically excluded from mainstream narratives, emphasizing their contributions and struggles.
- Global and Transnational Perspectives: Explores how cultural identities and ethnic experiences are shaped by migration, diaspora, and global systems of power.
- Policy and Social Justice: Examines the role of institutions and legislation in either perpetuating or challenging systemic inequities within society.
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Centers the worldviews, traditions, and epistemologies of Indigenous peoples, recognizing their significance and sovereignty.
Ethnic and Cultural Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Ethnic and Cultural Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Ethnic and Cultural Studies degrees, including Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1062 | $84,290 | $51,130 - $164,650 | 11,430 | N/A |
Ethnic and Cultural Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $61,920 in Florida to $113,070 in California—a 83% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Vermont, and Kansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 11,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Ethnic and Cultural Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Ethnic and Cultural Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Ethnic and Cultural Studies is found at University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (1,343 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (71 graduates), CUNY Brooklyn College (47 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (45 graduates), and University of Chicago (UChicago) (34 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,408 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Other Award
|
1,343 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
34 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
28 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| The New School |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Skidmore College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Private | skidmore.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| Saint Mary's College |
Master's
|
6 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | saintmarys.edu |
| Simmons University |
Master's
|
6 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | plu.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Saint Michael's College (SMC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Colchester, Vermont | Private | smcvt.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Other Award
|
5 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| Clark Atlanta University (CAU) |
Master's
|
4 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | cau.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
4 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Franklin Pierce University |
Other Award
|
4 | Rindge, New Hampshire | Private | franklinpierce.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Beloit College (Beloit) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beloit, Wisconsin | Private | beloit.edu |
| Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Private | lawrence.edu |
| Sonoma State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Rohnert Park, California | Public | sonoma.edu |
| Gallaudet University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
3 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gallaudet.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Stonehill College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Easton, Massachusetts | Private | stonehill.edu |
| Westfield State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Westfield, Massachusetts | Public | westfield.ma.edu |
| Carleton College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | carleton.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Other Award
|
3 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| St. Francis College (SFC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sfc.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Other Award
|
2 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
| Bennington College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bennington, Vermont | Private | bennington.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Buckhannon, West Virginia | Private | wvwc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Ethnic and Cultural Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Ethnic and Cultural Studies degree?
Salaries for Ethnic and Cultural Studies graduates vary by role and location. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $84,290 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $113,070 compared to $61,920 in Florida. Approximately 11,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Ethnic and Cultural Studies programs?
Currently 123 accredited institutions offer Ethnic and Cultural Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (1,343 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (71 graduates), and CUNY Brooklyn College (47 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Ethnic and Cultural Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 879 in 2010 to a peak of 2,535 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,431 in 2023-24. This represents a 177% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Ethnic and Cultural Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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