by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a ethnic studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools.
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If you want to know which schools send ethnic studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Southern California earned the #1 spot for highest-paid ethnic studies graduates in California. 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.
California State University East Bay produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ethnic studies, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Ethnic Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of about $47,511 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned it the #3 place for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona make a median of around $53,756 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #4 place for ethnic studies. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $60,614 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at Sonoma State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Sonoma State University make a median of around $58,913 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #6 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $58,175 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Diego came in at #7 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego typically earn about $59,797 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $61,195 annually.
University Of California Davis earned the #9 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,498.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz typically earn about $56,551 annually.
Stanford University landed the #11 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,156.
San Francisco State University earned the #12 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,308.
University Of California Riverside came in at #13 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Riverside typically earn about $53,291 annually.
California State University Sacramento placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. 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.
California State University Long Beach placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from California State University Long Beach make a median of around $50,464 per year.
California State University Fullerton placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,046.
University Of California Irvine earned the #17 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $50,699 per year.
California State University Northridge earned the #18 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $48,239 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University landed the #19 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $44,417 annually.
Humboldt State University earned the #20 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of about $30,844 a year early in their careers.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $27,058 annually.
Loyola Marymount University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $26,868 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their ethnic studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 22 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.
