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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the early-career earnings of their ethnic studies graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send ethnic studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 for ethnic studies graduate salaries in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,206.
Strong graduate earnings at American University earned it the #2 place for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from American University make a median of around $66,897 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Suny College At Plattsburgh one of the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Suny College At Plattsburgh make a median of around $52,432 per year.
Georgetown University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Georgetown University make a median of around $51,388 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at Suny At Binghamton, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,337.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #6 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $59,904 per year.
Towson University came in at #7 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Towson University is a public school located in the city of Towson. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Towson University make a median of around $59,315 per year.
Cuny Hunter College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Cuny Hunter College make a median of around $56,639 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,953.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #10 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,335.
Gallaudet University landed the #11 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Washington, Gallaudet University is a private not-for-profit institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Gallaudet University earn a median of about $48,417 a year early in their careers.
University Of Delaware came in at #12 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of about $38,124 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Lehman College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,292.
State University Of New York At New Paltz earned the #14 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of about $52,686 a year early in their careers.
Temple University earned the #15 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Temple University is a public school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $48,727 annually.
Cuny City College came in at #16 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Cuny City College is a public school located in the city of New York. Ethnic Studies graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of about $43,881 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University Camden placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Rutgers University Camden typically earn about $34,770 annually.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #18 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick make a median of around $34,770 per year.
Rutgers University Newark earned the #19 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Rutgers University Newark typically earn about $34,770 annually.
Suny At Albany placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Suny At Albany is a public school located in the city of Albany. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,823.
Syracuse University earned the #21 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Ethnic Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $18,854 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 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.