Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 120 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$185,460 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
38.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−74%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,565Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$51,565Median reported earnings · year 4
$51,290Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,000Median federal debt
26thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
120Reporting programs
103With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,561
- Federal debt
- $24,449
- Reporting programs
- 6
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,455
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,565
- Federal debt
- $23,000
- Reporting programs
- 120
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $22,903
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,317
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,436
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$46,384National median$51,56575th percentile$56,880
103 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Brandeis University$73,2562Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$72,0633University of California, Berkeley$67,2914Yale University$65,2135Wheaton College (Massachusetts)$64,7016University of Notre Dame$64,1527Sonoma State University$64,1168American University$63,5539University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$63,42610University of Delaware$61,443Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1062 · 12 crosswalk linksInterpreters and TranslatorsSOC 27-3091 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandeis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $73,256 | $24,226 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $72,063 | $26,825 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $67,291 | $15,740 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Yale UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $65,213 | $13,107 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Bachelor's Degree | Norton, MA | $64,701 | $25,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $64,152 | Not available | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | $64,116 | $19,187 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $63,553 | $25,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $63,426 | $14,802 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $61,443 | $25,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,990 | $17,875 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Mount Holyoke CollegeBachelor's Degree | South Hadley, MA | $59,843 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $59,567 | $25,832 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $59,461 | $19,500 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $59,372 | Not available | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $59,016 | $27,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $59,004 | $13,500 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $58,745 | $19,610 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $58,670 | $14,155 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $57,646 | $14,100 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $57,534 | $15,056 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $57,534 | $15,056 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $57,534 | $15,056 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $57,292 | $26,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $57,145 | $18,638 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | CUNY Lehman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $56,907 | $18,896 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $56,880 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $56,555 | $23,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $56,188 | $18,120 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $56,138 | $14,094 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $55,970 | $22,500 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $55,798 | $19,747 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $55,472 | $18,799 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $55,230 | $20,499 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $55,208 | $21,500 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $55,164 | $26,900 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $55,164 | $26,900 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $55,164 | $26,900 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $55,088 | $15,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $54,897 | $23,149 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $54,798 | $31,000 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $54,691 | $12,870 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | St Olaf CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | $54,100 | $23,480 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $54,057 | $26,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $53,509 | $26,965 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $53,319 | $23,747 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $52,747 | $31,966 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $51,872 | $26,814 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $51,791 | $22,875 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $51,569 | $10,698 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $51,565 | $23,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $51,565 | $26,000 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $51,565 | $23,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 54 | University of MemphisBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $51,232 | $32,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $50,941 | $23,402 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $50,784 | $25,219 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of LouisvilleBachelor's Degree | Louisville, KY | $50,715 | $32,181 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $50,708 | $15,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Minnesota State University-MankatoBachelor's Degree | Mankato, MN | $50,694 | $24,585 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $50,453 | $12,187 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $50,421 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $50,421 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $50,406 | $22,250 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | State University of New York at PlattsburghBachelor's Degree | Plattsburgh, NY | $50,030 | $27,500 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $49,429 | Not available | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $49,305 | $21,964 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $48,934 | $19,750 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $48,810 | $26,262 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $48,810 | $26,262 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $48,810 | $26,262 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $48,810 | $26,262 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $48,810 | $26,262 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $48,637 | $20,532 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $48,572 | $17,500 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $47,880 | $20,250 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $47,471 | $18,998 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Keene State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keene, NH | $46,990 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $46,384 | $19,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Smith CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northampton, MA | $46,136 | $19,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $46,115 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $46,063 | $27,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $45,801 | Not available | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | SUNY BrockportBachelor's Degree | Brockport, NY | $45,729 | $26,672 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | State University of New York at New PaltzBachelor's Degree | New Paltz, NY | $45,563 | $25,500 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $45,519 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $45,294 | $27,210 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $45,253 | $19,448 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $45,139 | $25,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Aurora UniversityBachelor's Degree | Aurora, IL | $44,786 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Columbia College ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $44,703 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Rhode Island CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $44,144 | $19,966 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $43,975 | $31,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $43,082 | $13,486 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtBachelor's Degree | Arcata, CA | $43,064 | $15,533 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $42,635 | $20,527 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $42,435 | $27,011 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $42,233 | $26,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $42,073 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $40,713 | $22,056 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $39,449 | $27,000 | -119% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.