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 schools below stand out for the salaries their ethnic studies graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 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.
Saint Louis University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools in the The Plains States Region. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,593.
Minnesota State University Mankato produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ethnic studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school located in the city of Mankato. Ethnic Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of about $49,022 a year early in their careers.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,926.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #4. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $48,333 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in ethnic studies will find them at Wichita State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Students who complete the ethnic studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,820.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #6 position for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $37,389 annually.
St Olaf College came in at #7 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of about $28,288 a year early in their careers.
Haskell Indian Nations University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, Haskell Indian Nations University is a public institution. Ethnic Studies graduates of Haskell Indian Nations University earn a median of about $23,887 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #9 for ethnic studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Early-career ethnic studies graduates from University Of Nebraska Lincoln make a median of around $21,836 per year.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #10 spot for ethnic studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ethnic studies degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis typically earn about $16,635 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 · 10 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.