by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 565 U.S. colleges awarded 9,441 degrees and certificates in Ethnic Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. College Factual ranks 164 schools in its 2027 Best Ethnic Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,619 one year after completing, rising to $54,558 after four years.
Students who major in Ethnic, Cultural Minority or Group Studies usually choose a topic to focus on such as African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic-Americans, women, gay/lesbian culture, and more. The program will include a combination of courses delving into the history, politics, literature and modern development of these ethnicities, cultures or groups.
A major in ethnic studies will give students a broad set of knowledge in various minority groups, what challenges they have faced throughout time and what their culture is about by studying literature, learning about their history and political leanings.
Because a major in ethnic studies is so wide-ranging, this major can lay the groundwork for you to start a career in many fields including business, teaching, sociology, diplomacy, public policy, and others. For example, you may work in business to help the company understand a cultural impact of a product you are developing. You could opt to become a high school or college-level teacher specializing in a certain area of history.
To work in a post-secondary position, you will need to have a bachelor's and possibly a master's degree or Ph.D. in ethnic studies. Other careers that can utilize your ethnic studies education will vary by the industry you work in.
A degree in Ethnic Studies explores Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., ethnic studies is a popular field of study, with 9,441 degrees awarded annually. 565 colleges award ethnic studies degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,231.
By level, the 9,441 awards include 147 certificates, 747 associate degrees, 4,912 bachelor’s degrees, 3,488 master’s degrees and 122 doctorates.
Women earned 82% of ethnic studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,702 of 9,441). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,770) and Hispanic or Latino (2,343), and international students earned 308.
College Factual ranks 164 schools in its 2027 Best Ethnic Studies Schools ranking, including 104 for bachelor’s degrees and 16 for master’s degrees. It also ranks ethnic studies schools within 32 states. In all, 565 colleges offer ethnic studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ethnic Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ethnic studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,912 of the 9,441 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ethnic studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
For most careers in this field, interpersonal skills, written and oral communication and critical thinking will be important. In any position, it is critical to be able to effectively communicate with others both verbally and via written communication. The type of positions utilizing a person who studied ethnic studies will also likely need critical thinking skills. They will need to be able to evaluate cultural norms and decide for themselves what they think.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an ethnic studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 147 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 747 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,912 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,488 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 122 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ethnic studies, at 57.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 57.8% |
| Master’s degree | 30.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Ethnic Studies, with an average median salary of $50,072; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Humanities Professor, Ethnology Teacher, Black Studies Professor and Ethnic Studies Professor.
The occupation related to ethnic studies with the most projected jobs is Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Ethnic Studies graduates earn a median $32,619 one year after completing their program, $54,558 after four years and $53,148 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,619 |
| 4 years | $54,558 |
| 5 years | $53,148 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to ethnic studies, with a median salary of $52,627.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Ethnic Studies includes 12 concentrations that together award 9,441 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Women’s Studies (2,703), Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other (2,446) and African-American/Black Studies (985). It has 2 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,150 degrees a year; the largest are Area Studies (6,103) and Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other (47). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Area Studies | 6,103 |
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 47 |
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