Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs

CIP 0502 · Area, Ethnic & Gender Studies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion

107 institutions report graduate earnings for Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $53,033 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42× and 76% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 5 of the 112 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.

National ranking

#	Institution	Earn 4yr	% > threshold	Median debt	Debt/earn	Earnings premium	2 of 3 yrs
1	Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityOK · Master's	$82,579 n=26	85% 1yr	$20,499	0.25×	Above +52%	—
2	San Francisco State UniversityCA · Master's	$75,709 n=19	—	$36,734	0.48×	Above +1%	Below 1/2
3	Widener UniversityPA · Doctoral	$74,436 n=17	—	—	—	Above +16%	—
4	Brandeis UniversityMA · Bachelor's	$73,256 n=21	—	$24,226	0.33×	Above +68%	Clears 2/2
5	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's	$72,063 n=16	58% 1yr	$26,623	0.37×	Above +91%	—
6	University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's	$69,701 n=21	—	$25,340	0.36×	Below -7%	—
7	CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Master's	$68,933 n=16	—	—	—	Below -3%	—
8	University of GeorgiaGA · UG cert	$67,431 n=16	95% 5yr	$17,460	0.26×	Above +91%	Clears 2/2
9	University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's	$67,291 n=68	80% 5yr	$15,076	0.22×	Above +75%	Clears 2/2
10	Yale UniversityCT · Bachelor's	$65,213 n=24	58% 1yr	$13,107	0.20×	Above +54%	—
11	Wheaton College (Massachusetts)MA · Bachelor's	$64,701 n=19	85% 5yr	$25,000	0.39×	Above +49%	Clears 2/2
12	University of Notre DameIN · Bachelor's	$64,152 n=16	—	$21,000	0.33×	Above +71%	—
13	Sonoma State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$64,116 n=42	72% 5yr	$19,187	0.30×	Above +67%	Clears 2/2
14	Widener UniversityPA · Master's	$63,673 n=53	—	$61,500	0.97×	Below -1%	—
15	American UniversityDC · Bachelor's	$63,553 n=17	—	$25,000	0.39×	Above +76%	—
16	University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's	$63,426 n=60	80%	$14,802	0.23×	Above +81%	Clears 2/2
17	University of IowaIA · UG cert	$61,856 n=49	91% 5yr	$25,750	0.42×	Above +61%	Clears 2/2
18	University of DelawareDE · Bachelor's	$61,443 n=39	61% 1yr	$24,411	0.40×	Above +60%	—
19	San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$59,990 n=109	59%	$17,303	0.29×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
20	Mount Holyoke CollegeMA · Bachelor's	$59,843 n=19	—	$20,000	0.33×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
21	University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's	$59,567 n=22	—	$24,766	0.42×	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
22	University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's	$59,461 n=23	87% 5yr	$16,250	0.27×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
23	Northwestern UniversityIL · Bachelor's	$59,372 n=18	—	—	—	Above +57%	—
24	University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO · UG cert	$59,265 n=609	66% 1yr	$20,500	0.35×	Above +66%	—
25	DePaul UniversityIL · Bachelor's	$59,016 n=20	—	$27,000	0.46×	Above +57%	—
26	University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's	$59,004 n=89	90% 5yr	$13,250	0.23×	Above +53%	Clears 2/2
27	Emory UniversityGA · Bachelor's	$58,745 n=23	—	$18,210	0.31×	Above +66%	—
28	University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's	$58,670 n=189	43%	$14,000	0.24×	Above +53%	Clears 2/2
29	University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Bachelor's	$57,646 n=43	88% 5yr	$14,100	0.24×	Above +52%	Clears 2/2
30	University of Washington-Bothell CampusWA · Bachelor's	$57,534 n=62	100%	$12,551	0.22×	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
31	University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's	$57,534 n=62	100%	$12,551	0.22×	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
32	University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA · Bachelor's	$57,534 n=62	100%	$12,551	0.22×	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
33	The University of Texas at AustinTX · Bachelor's	$57,292 n=33	89% 5yr	$24,353	0.42×	Above +60%	Clears 2/2
34	California State University-East BayCA · Bachelor's	$57,145 n=20	—	$13,884	0.24×	Above +49%	—
35	CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$56,907 n=33	—	$14,657	0.26×	Above +50%	—
36	Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$56,880 n=21	—	$26,953	0.47×	Above +33%	—
37	University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's	$56,555 n=54	82% 5yr	$22,305	0.39×	Above +47%	Clears 2/2
38	California State University-SacramentoCA · Bachelor's	$56,188 n=64	82% 5yr	$15,000	0.27×	Above +46%	Clears 2/2
39	CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$56,138 n=90	62%	$8,625	0.15×	Above +48%	Clears 2/2
40	California State University-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's	$55,970 n=16	—	$22,000	0.39×	Above +46%	—
41	University of California-Santa CruzCA · Bachelor's	$55,798 n=123	69%	$19,500	0.35×	Above +45%	Clears 2/2
42	Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Bachelor's	$55,472 n=26	77% 1yr	$19,500	0.35×	Above +46%	Clears 2/2
43	San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$55,230 n=47	42% 1yr	$23,080	0.42×	Above +44%	—
44	University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's	$55,208 n=18	—	$17,750	0.32×	Above +44%	—
45	Rutgers University-CamdenNJ · Bachelor's	$55,164 n=71	70% 5yr	$26,000	0.47×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
46	Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's	$55,164 n=71	70% 5yr	$26,000	0.47×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
47	Rutgers University-NewarkNJ · Bachelor's	$55,164 n=71	70% 5yr	$26,000	0.47×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
48	University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's	$55,088 n=290	40%	$14,820	0.27×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
49	Loyola Marymount UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$54,897 n=25	—	$23,105	0.42×	Above +43%	—
50	University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC · Bachelor's	$54,798 n=38	74%	$27,750	0.51×	Above +60%	Clears 2/2
51	University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · Bachelor's	$54,691 n=47	84% 5yr	$11,364	0.21×	Above +59%	Clears 2/2
52	Northeastern Illinois UniversityIL · Master's	$54,322 n=21	95% 5yr	$32,653	0.60×	Below -21%	Below 2/2
53	St Olaf CollegeMN · Bachelor's	$54,100 n=17	—	$23,480	0.43×	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
54	University of OregonOR · Bachelor's	$54,057 n=39	62% 5yr	$25,000	0.46×	Above +47%	Below 1/2
55	University of Massachusetts-BostonMA · Bachelor's	$53,509 n=33	67% 1yr	$27,000	0.51×	Above +23%	Clears 2/2
56	University of California-San DiegoCA · Bachelor's	$53,319 n=33	90% 5yr	$24,237	0.46×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
57	Metropolitan State University of DenverCO · Bachelor's	$52,747 n=19	—	$22,285	0.42×	Above +27%	—
58	Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$51,872 n=19	70% 5yr	$27,000	0.52×	Above +48%	Clears 2/2
59	University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$51,791 n=53	82% 5yr	$22,692	0.44×	Above +53%	Clears 2/2
60	CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$51,569 n=25	86% 5yr	—	—	Above +36%	Clears 2/2
61	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's	$51,565 n=28	76% 5yr	$20,500	0.40×	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
62	Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's	$51,565 n=28	76% 5yr	$20,500	0.40×	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
63	University at AlbanyNY · Bachelor's	$51,565 n=49	50% 1yr	$24,547	0.48×	Above +36%	—
64	University of MemphisTN · Bachelor's	$51,232 n=19	—	$28,000	0.55×	Above +47%	—
65	University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's	$50,941 n=24	53% 1yr	$21,500	0.42×	Above +35%	—
66	University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's	$50,784 n=23	—	$25,438	0.50×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
67	University of LouisvilleKY · Bachelor's	$50,715 n=16	—	$27,750	0.55×	Above +46%	—
68	California State University-NorthridgeCA · Bachelor's	$50,708 n=217	25%	$15,000	0.30×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
69	Minnesota State University-MankatoMN · Bachelor's	$50,694 n=24	70% 5yr	$22,775	0.45×	Above +27%	Clears 2/2
70	California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's	$50,453 n=70	64%	$12,337	0.24×	Above +31%	Clears 2/2
71	Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$50,421 n=16	—	$26,140	0.52×	Above +37%	—
72	Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's	$50,421 n=16	—	$26,140	0.52×	Above +37%	—
73	Towson UniversityMD · Bachelor's	$50,406 n=33	86% 5yr	$18,618	0.37×	Above +20%	Clears 2/2
74	State University of New York at PlattsburghNY · Bachelor's	$50,030 n=18	—	$26,000	0.52×	Above +32%	—
75	Montclair State UniversityNJ · Bachelor's	$49,429 n=21	—	$22,250	0.45×	Above +24%	—
76	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's	$49,305 n=47	66% 5yr	$20,500	0.42×	Above +23%	Clears 2/2
77	University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's	$48,934 n=37	83% 5yr	$19,254	0.39×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
78	University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's	$48,810 n=29	—	$24,711	0.51×	Above +16%	—
79	University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's	$48,810 n=29	—	$24,711	0.51×	Above +16%	—
80	University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's	$48,810 n=29	—	$24,711	0.51×	Above +16%	—
81	University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's	$48,810 n=29	—	$24,711	0.51×	Above +16%	—
82	University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's	$48,810 n=29	—	$24,711	0.51×	Above +16%	—
83	CUNY City CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$48,637 n=45	63% 5yr	$20,739	0.43×	Above +28%	Clears 2/2
84	Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · Bachelor's	$48,572 n=18	77% 5yr	$17,500	0.36×	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
85	University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Bachelor's	$47,880 n=42	76%	$18,681	0.39×	Above +17%	Below 1/2
86	University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's	$47,471 n=33	80% 5yr	$18,998	0.40×	Above +23%	Clears 2/2
87	Keene State CollegeNH · Bachelor's	$46,990 n=16	—	—	—	Above +6%	—
88	California State University-FullertonCA · Bachelor's	$46,384 n=38	80% 5yr	$19,500	0.42×	Above +21%	Clears 2/2
89	Smith CollegeMA · Bachelor's	$46,136 n=31	86% 5yr	$18,259	0.40×	Above +6%	Below 1/2
90	University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$46,115 n=28	90% 5yr	$22,750	0.49×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
91	University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · UG cert	$46,088 n=19	—	$24,000	0.52×	Above +18%	—
92	University of IowaIA · Bachelor's	$46,063 n=19	—	$27,000	0.59×	Above +20%	—
93	Metropolitan State UniversityMN · Bachelor's	$45,801 n=16	—	—	—	Above +15%	—
94	SUNY BrockportNY · Bachelor's	$45,729 n=17	—	$23,585	0.52×	Above +20%	—
95	State University of New York at New PaltzNY · Bachelor's	$45,563 n=17	79% 5yr	$22,500	0.49×	Above +20%	Clears 2/2
96	Stanford UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$45,519 n=20	59% 1yr	—	—	Above +18%	—
97	University of North Carolina at GreensboroNC · Bachelor's	$45,294 n=35	47% 1yr	$25,500	0.56×	Above +32%	Below 1/2
98	University of Illinois ChicagoIL · Bachelor's	$45,253 n=28	71% 5yr	$16,500	0.36×	Above +20%	Below 1/2
99	University of New Mexico-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's	$45,139 n=36	64% 1yr	$20,895	0.46×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
100	Aurora UniversityIL · Bachelor's	$44,786 n=27	—	$21,818	0.49×	Above +19%	—
101	Columbia College ChicagoIL · Bachelor's	$44,703 n=17	—	$25,000	0.56×	Above +19%	—
102	Rhode Island CollegeRI · Bachelor's	$44,144 n=17	—	$18,433	0.42×	Above +5%	—
103	Georgia State UniversityGA · Bachelor's	$43,975 n=23	—	$26,875	0.61×	Above +25%	—
104	California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Bachelor's	$43,082 n=23	92% 5yr	$14,936	0.35×	Above +12%	Clears 2/2
105	California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA · Bachelor's	$43,064 n=24	—	$15,000	0.35×	Above +12%	—
106	University of Nebraska-LincolnNE · Bachelor's	$42,635 n=16	—	$17,500	0.41×	Above +15%	Below 1/2
107	University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · Bachelor's	$42,435 n=56	70% 5yr	$26,000	0.61×	Above +9%	Clears 2/2
108	Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$42,233 n=40	100%	$25,998	0.62×	Above +11%	Clears 2/2
109	Eastern Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$42,073 n=20	81% 5yr	$27,000	0.64×	Above +20%	Clears 2/2
110	Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's	$40,713 n=34	76%	$21,563	0.53×	Above +11%	Clears 2/2
111	Temple UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$39,449 n=22	91% 5yr	$26,875	0.68×	Above +5%	Clears 2/2
112	University of Puget SoundWA · Bachelor's	$37,553 n=23	—	$21,215	0.56×	Below -12%	—

% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.

By state — median earnings, 4 yrs out

State	Median earn 4yr	Programs
Pennsylvania	$67,868	4
Massachusetts	$59,843	5
Georgia	$58,745	3
Washington	$57,534	5
California	$55,514	24
New Jersey	$55,164	4
North Carolina	$54,691	3
Michigan	$51,872	3
New York	$51,567	10
Arizona	$51,565	3
Illinois	$50,941	7
Oregon	$50,421	3
Minnesota	$50,000	4
Connecticut	$48,810	6
Wisconsin	$46,088	3

States with at least 3 reporting Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs, by median graduate earnings.

Frequently asked

Which colleges have the highest-paying Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs?

By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs in this dataset are Southeastern Oklahoma State University ($82,579), San Francisco State University ($75,709), Widener University ($74,436). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.

Are Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?

Indicatively, 5 of the 112 Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.

Track Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs across your peer set

We build tailored dashboards — the fields, institutions and risk signals your enrollment or program-review team cares about, kept current. Tell us what you'd want to watch.

Request a custom dashboard

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.