by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where ethnic studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send ethnic studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Wheaton College Massachusetts, our #1 for ethnic studies graduate salaries in the United States. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts typically earn about $63,918 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Massachusetts Amherst make a median of around $63,903 per year.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ethnic studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Hawaii At Hilo make a median of around $61,507 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $55,206 a year early in their careers.
American University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from American University typically earn about $66,897 annually.
Mount Holyoke College earned the #6 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,357.
University Of Southern California landed the #7 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $54,012 annually.
Suny College At Plattsburgh ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of about $52,432 a year early in their careers.
Georgetown University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Georgetown University typically earn about $51,388 annually.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #10 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of about $51,337 a year early in their careers.
Wellesley College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Wellesley College typically earn about $60,668 annually.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #12 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of about $50,577 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #13 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,179.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #14 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,593.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington typically earn about $49,207 annually.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,022.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,912.
California State University East Bay earned the #18 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from California State University East Bay make a median of around $47,511 per year.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #19 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,495.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $53,756 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #21 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $60,614 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Arizona State University make a median of around $51,370 per year.
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #23 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Arizona State University Skysong make a median of around $51,370 per year.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #24 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $59,904 per year.
Sonoma State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,913.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning ethnic studies graduates:
Explore the highest-paying ethnic studies schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries ethnic studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
