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Intercultural and Diversity Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Intercultural and Diversity Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the complex interactions between cultural, racial, ethnic, and social groups within society. The program equips students with analytical tools to navigate and lead in increasingly diverse environments across personal, professional, and institutional contexts.

  • Ethnic and Cultural Studies: Explores the histories, traditions, identities, and lived experiences of various cultural and ethnic communities, emphasizing how cultural expression shapes social structures and individual perspectives.
  • Group Psychology: Investigates how individuals behave within social groups, focusing on dynamics such as identity formation, group cohesion, bias, and the psychological impact of inclusion or exclusion.
  • Sociology: Analyzes societal patterns, institutions, and systems of power, particularly as they relate to inequality, social stratification, and the mechanisms that sustain or challenge social divisions.
  • Anthropology: Examines human societies and cultures across time and space, providing insight into cultural variation, belief systems, and the evolution of social norms and practices.
  • Conflict Resolution: Develops strategies for mediating interpersonal and intergroup disputes, fostering dialogue, empathy, and sustainable solutions in diverse settings.
  • Human Services and Resources: Focuses on equitable access to support systems, community development, advocacy, and the design of inclusive programs that serve marginalized populations.
  • Applied Diversity Leadership: Prepares individuals to manage and lead diverse teams and organizations by integrating cultural competence, policy awareness, and inclusive decision-making across family, educational, recreational, and workplace environments.

Intercultural and Diversity Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

706
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
98
Universities & Colleges
2
Career Pathways

Intercultural and Diversity Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Intercultural and Diversity Studies degrees, including Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other and 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 48,400 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 19-3099 $100,340 $62,570 - $160,810 36,970 $48.24
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1062 $84,290 $51,130 - $164,650 11,430 N/A

Salary Comparison

Intercultural and Diversity Studies Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,610 in Kentucky to $112,390 in Virginia—a 57% difference. The highest-paying states include Virginia, District of Columbia, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 48,400 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 Intercultural and Diversity Studies by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 98 institutions offering Intercultural and Diversity 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 Intercultural and Diversity Studies is found at Biola University (43 graduates), Harvard University (37 graduates), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Main Campus (33 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYUH), Hawaii (31 graduates), and University of Kentucky (UK) (29 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 706 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 Admissions Location Control Website
Biola University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Doctorate (O)
43 SAT: 1130-1360
ACT: 24-30
La Mirada, California Private biola.edu
Harvard University
Postbac Cert.
37 SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 34-36
Cambridge, Massachusetts Private harvard.edu
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
Other Award
33 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 17-24
Indiana, Pennsylvania Public iup.edu
Brigham Young University (BYUH)
Bachelor's
31 SAT: 985-1191
ACT: 21-25
Laie, Hawaii Private byuh.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
29 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 21-28
Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
Tufts University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
28 SAT: 1460-1550
ACT: 33-35
Medford, Massachusetts Private tufts.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Other Award
26 SAT: 1100-1290
ACT: 22-28
Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu
California State University (CSUN)
Master's
25 N/A Northridge, California Public csun.edu
Rockhurst University
Postbac Cert.
23 SAT: 1116-1246
ACT: 22-27
Kansas City, Missouri Private rockhurst.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Other Award
23 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32
Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
University of Idaho (U of I)
Other Award
21 SAT: 950-1200
ACT: 20-29
Moscow, Idaho Public uidaho.edu
Villanova University
Postbac Cert.
17 SAT: 1400-1510
ACT: 32-34
Villanova, Pennsylvania Private villanova.edu
University of Kansas (KU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
15 SAT: 1050-1290
ACT: 21-27
Lawrence, Kansas Public ku.edu
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Other Award
15 N/A Wayne, New Jersey Public wpunj.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)
Bachelor's
Other Award
14 SAT: 960-1210
ACT: 21-27
Mount Pleasant, Michigan Public cmich.edu
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS)
Master's
14 SAT: 920-1230
ACT: 18-26
Wake Forest, North Carolina Private sebts.edu
Kennesaw State University (KSU)
Other Award
14 SAT: 1020-1220
ACT: 19-25
Kennesaw, Georgia Public kennesaw.edu
Macalester College
Bachelor's
13 SAT: 1350-1510
ACT: 30-33
Saint Paul, Minnesota Private macalester.edu
Saint Joseph's University (SJU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
13 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 27-31
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private sju.edu
Drury University
Postbac Cert.
11 SAT: 1050-1310
ACT: 23-28
Springfield, Missouri Private drury.edu
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
Master's
10 SAT: 1020-1230
ACT: 20-26
Bowling Green, Ohio Public bgsu.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Other Award
10 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private upenn.edu
Robert Morris University (RMU)
Postbac Cert.
10 N/A Moon Township, Pennsylvania Private rmu.edu
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Other Award
10 SAT: 1040-1300
ACT: 19-26
Brookings, South Dakota Public sdstate.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33
Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
Park University
Other Award
8 N/A Parkville, Missouri Private park.edu
University of the Incarnate Word (UIW)
Bachelor's
8 SAT: 900-1140
ACT: 17-24
San Antonio, Texas Private uiw.edu
University of Utah (U of U)
Other Award
8 SAT: 1180-1398
ACT: 22-29
Salt Lake City, Utah Public utah.edu
Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
Master's
Doctorate (P)
8 N/A Santa Fe Springs, California Private ch.ptsa.edu
Wheaton College
Master's
7 SAT: 1260-1440
ACT: 27-32
Wheaton, Illinois Private wheaton.edu
University of Iowa
Postbac Cert.
7 SAT: 1130-1320
ACT: 22-28
Iowa City, Iowa Public uiowa.edu
Missouri State University
Other Award
7 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 19-25
Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
World Mission University (WMU)
Master's
7 N/A Los Angeles, California Private wmu.edu
University of Alabama (UAB)
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (R)
6 SAT: 1130-1400
ACT: 22-30
Birmingham, Alabama Public uab.edu
University of Maryland (UMBC)
Master's
6 SAT: 1220-1410
ACT: 23-30
Baltimore, Maryland Public umbc.edu
William Carey University (WCU)
Bachelor's
6 SAT: 880-1200
ACT: 20-27
Hattiesburg, Mississippi Private wmcarey.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Postbac Cert.
6 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
Grace Mission University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
6 N/A Fullerton, California Private gm.edu
Grand View University
Postbac Cert.
5 N/A Des Moines, Iowa Private grandview.edu
University of Houston (UHCL)
Master's
5 SAT: 990-1170
ACT: 18-23
Houston, Texas Public uhcl.edu
Old Dominion University (ODU)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
5 SAT: 1110-1290
ACT: 22-27
Norfolk, Virginia Public odu.edu
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)
Other Award
4 SAT: 960-1180
ACT: 19-29
New Britain, Connecticut Public ccsu.edu
Divine Word College
Associate's
Bachelor's
4 N/A Epworth, Iowa Private dwci.edu
Emmanuel College
Postbac Cert.
4 SAT: 1170-1330
ACT: 26-31
Boston, Massachusetts Private emmanuel.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
Other Award
4 SAT: 1330-1480
ACT: 29-32
Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
University of Wisconsin
Other Award
4 ACT: 18-24 Whitewater, Wisconsin Public uww.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Other Award
3 N/A Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
Fort Lewis College (FLC)
Bachelor's
3 SAT: 980-1220
ACT: 16-24
Durango, Colorado Public fortlewis.edu
Quinnipiac University (QU)
Other Award
3 SAT: 1100-1300
ACT: 25-29
Hamden, Connecticut Private qu.edu
Elmhurst University
Bachelor's
3 SAT: 960-1210
ACT: 23-28
Elmhurst, Illinois Private elmhurst.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)
Residency
3 SAT: 970-1250
ACT: 18-26
Wichita, Kansas Public wichita.edu
Rowan University
Master's
3 SAT: 1100-1310
ACT: 26-30
Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU)
Bachelor's
3 SAT: 1105-1350
ACT: 25-31
Delaware, Ohio Private owu.edu
Western Seminary
Doctorate (R)
3 N/A Portland, Oregon Private westernseminary.edu
American College of Education (ACE)
Postbac Cert.
3 N/A Indianapolis, Indiana Private ace.edu
Purdue University Global
Postbac Cert.
3 N/A West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdueglobal.edu
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest)
Other Award
3 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 20-26
California, Pennsylvania Public pennwest.edu
Southeastern University (SEU)
Bachelor's
2 N/A Lakeland, Florida Private seu.edu
DePaul University
Master's
2 SAT: 1130-1340
ACT: 26-31
Chicago, Illinois Private depaul.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU)
Bachelor's
2 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 19-28
Marion, Indiana Private indwes.edu
Waldorf University
Associate's
2 N/A Forest City, Iowa Private waldorf.edu
University of Louisville (UofL)
Postbac Cert.
2 SAT: 1020-1250
ACT: 19-27
Louisville, Kentucky Public louisville.edu
University of Maryland (UMB)
Postbac Cert.
2 N/A Baltimore, Maryland Public umaryland.edu
Stonehill College
Postbac Cert.
2 N/A Easton, Massachusetts Private stonehill.edu
University of North Dakota (UND)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
2 N/A Grand Forks, North Dakota Public und.edu
Clark State College
Other Award
2 N/A Springfield, Ohio Public clarkstate.edu
Temple University
Postbac Cert.
2 N/A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public temple.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)
Other Award
2 N/A Cheney, Washington Public ewu.edu
Purdue University (PU)
Postbac Cert.
2 SAT: 1190-1460
ACT: 27-34
West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdue.edu
University of North Georgia (UNG)
Postbac Cert.
2 SAT: 1020-1215
ACT: 19-25
Dahlonega, Georgia Public ung.edu
University of Mobile
Bachelor's
1 ACT: 21-27 Mobile, Alabama Private umobile.edu
University of Alaska (UAA)
Other Award
1 N/A Anchorage, Alaska Public uaa.alaska.edu
Fresno Pacific University (FPU)
Master's
1 N/A Fresno, California Private fresno.edu
University of Redlands
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1078-1323
ACT: 25-30
Redlands, California Private redlands.edu
Indiana University (IUSB)
Other Award
1 SAT: 970-1170
ACT: 21-25
South Bend, Indiana Public iusb.edu
Indiana University (IUSE)
Other Award
1 SAT: 1010-1190
ACT: 20-26
New Albany, Indiana Public ius.edu
Bentley University
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1250-1410
ACT: 29-32
Waltham, Massachusetts Private bentley.edu
Eastern Nazarene College (ENC)
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 883-1180 Quincy, Massachusetts Private enc.edu
University of Massachusetts
Postbac Cert.
1 SAT: 1180-1350
ACT: 26-30
Lowell, Massachusetts Public uml.edu
Merrimack College
Postbac Cert.
1 N/A North Andover, Massachusetts Private merrimack.edu
North Central University (NCU)
Bachelor's
1 N/A Minneapolis, Minnesota Private northcentral.edu
Belhaven University
Bachelor's
1 ACT: 18-23 Jackson, Mississippi Private belhaven.edu
University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV)
Post-Master's
1 SAT: 920-1200 Bronx, New York Private mountsaintvincent.edu
Empire State University
Other Award
1 N/A Saratoga Springs, New York Public sunyempire.edu
Gardner-Webb University (GWU)
Master's
1 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 20-26
Boiling Springs, North Carolina Private gardner-webb.edu
Wright State University
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 913-1230
ACT: 17-25
Dayton, Ohio Public wright.edu
Cedar Crest College
Postbac Cert.
1 SAT: 1000-1230 Allentown, Pennsylvania Private cedarcrest.edu
Delaware County Community College (DCCC)
Associate's
1 N/A Media, Pennsylvania Public dccc.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Other Award
1 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 23-28
Erie, Pennsylvania Public behrend.psu.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Other Award
1 SAT: 1040-1230 Sharon, Pennsylvania Public shenango.psu.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Other Award
1 SAT: 1220-1400
ACT: 27-32
University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
Cairn University
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1050-1260
ACT: 23-27
Langhorne, Pennsylvania Private cairn.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)
Other Award
1 SAT: 1000-1170
ACT: 19-25
Spartanburg, South Carolina Public uscupstate.edu
The University of Tennessee
Postbac Cert.
1 SAT: 1190-1340
ACT: 25-31
Knoxville, Tennessee Public utk.edu
Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU)
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 973-1193
ACT: 18-24
Nashville, Tennessee Private trevecca.edu
Union University
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1030-1340
ACT: 22-29
Jackson, Tennessee Private uu.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Postbac Cert.
1 SAT: 1100-1340
ACT: 18-30
University Park, Pennsylvania Public worldcampus.psu.edu
Indiana Institute of Technology
Other Award
1 N/A Fort Wayne, Indiana Private cps.indianatech.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Intercultural and Diversity Studies programs

How much can I earn with a Intercultural and Diversity Studies degree?

Salaries for Intercultural and Diversity Studies graduates vary by role and location. Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other earn a median of $100,340 annually, while Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $84,290. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Virginia average $112,390 compared to $71,610 in Kentucky. Approximately 48,400 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 Intercultural and Diversity Studies programs?

Currently 98 accredited institutions offer Intercultural and Diversity Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Biola University (43 graduates), Harvard University (37 graduates), and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Main Campus (33 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 Intercultural and Diversity Studies growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 301 in 2010 to 706 in 2023-24. This represents a 135% 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 Intercultural and Diversity Studies degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 48,400 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.

Related Interdisciplinary Programs

Explore similar degree programs within the Interdisciplinary field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.

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