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 schools below stand out for the salaries their ethnic studies graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 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.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #1 spot for highest-paid ethnic studies graduates in New York. 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.
Suny College At Plattsburgh produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ethnic studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Suny College At Plattsburgh is a public school located in the town of Plattsburgh. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Suny College At Plattsburgh make a median of around $52,432 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Suny At Binghamton make a median of around $51,337 per year.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,639.
Strong graduate earnings at Cuny Brooklyn College earned it the #5 place for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from Cuny Brooklyn College make a median of around $50,335 per year.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #6 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. 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 #7 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. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,686.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public school located in the city of New York. Ethnic Studies graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of about $51,133 a year early in their careers.
Cuny City College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,881.
Suny At Albany came in at #10 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,823.
Syracuse University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. 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 · 11 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.