by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a ethnic studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the early-career earnings of their ethnic studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose ethnic studies graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools in the Far Western Region. University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a public school located in the town of Hilo. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Hawaii At Hilo make a median of around $61,507 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $54,012 per year.
California State University East Bay came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $47,511 annually.
A rank of #4 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $53,756 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,614.
Sonoma State University earned the #6 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located 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.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #7 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $58,175 annually.
University Of California San Diego came in at #8 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of about $59,797 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,195.
University Of California Davis landed the #10 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $56,498 per year.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #11 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,840.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $57,840 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #13 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of about $57,840 a year early in their careers.
Portland State University came in at #14 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Portland State University typically earn about $55,563 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $56,551 a year early in their careers.
Stanford University came in at #16 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Ethnic Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of about $41,156 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University earned the #17 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $55,308 annually.
University Of California Riverside placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. University Of California Riverside is a public school located in the city of Riverside. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,291.
California State University Sacramento came in at #19 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $52,252 per year.
University Of Oregon placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,020.
California State University Long Beach landed the #21 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,464.
California State University Fullerton ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Ethnic Studies graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $54,046 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Irvine came in at #23 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of about $50,699 a year early in their careers.
California State University Northridge came in at #24 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,239.
San Diego State University landed the #25 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from San Diego State University make a median of around $44,417 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid ethnic studies ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 30 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.
