Ethnic Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their ethnic studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 681 schools to find the best for ethnic studies students.
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Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best school in the country for a degree in ethnic studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 11 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Ethnic Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for Vanderbilt University
A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 31 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ethnic studies program make about $41,156 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full ethnic studies program report for Stanford University
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for ethnic studies. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 17 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ethnic studies degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at Purdue University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong ethnic studies program will find one at Princeton University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 ethnic studies students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for Princeton University
Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in ethnic studies, ranking #5. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 28 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Ethnic Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $32,624 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,107 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University landed the #6 spot for ethnic studies this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in ethnic studies from Wesleyan University
University Of California Berkeley ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best ethnic studies schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 85 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $34,559 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,740 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in ethnic studies from University Of California Berkeley
San Jose State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best ethnic studies schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 14 ethnic studies students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at San Jose State University
Harvard University placed #9 among the best ethnic studies schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 11 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their ethnic studies degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best ethnic studies schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 21 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Clemson University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best ethnic studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 10 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the ethnic studies program make about $53,834 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,783.
More information about a degree in ethnic studies from Clemson University
University Of Georgia came in at #12 for ethnic studies this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 51 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ethnic studies program make about $53,546 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of Georgia
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best ethnic studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 11 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #14 for ethnic studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 12 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $34,197. Students borrow a median of $14,100 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Dartmouth College landed the #15 spot for ethnic studies this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 25 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ethnic studies degree from Dartmouth College earn around $31,967 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $15,157 in student loans.
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University Of Utah placed #16 among the best ethnic studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Utah awarded about 44 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,798.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of Utah
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #17 position for ethnic studies this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 37 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $32,341 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #18 among the best ethnic studies schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 24 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $33,991 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,802.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #19 for ethnic studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 55 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ethnic studies degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $31,459 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,056.
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University Of California Davis earned the #20 position for ethnic studies this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 72 ethnic studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,563. Students borrow a median of $14,155 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of California Davis
Iowa State University landed the #21 spot for ethnic studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 ethnic studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at Iowa State University
Mount Holyoke College landed the #22 spot for ethnic studies this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 13 ethnic studies students who graduated with this degree at Mount Holyoke College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ethnic studies program make about $35,038 in their early career. Mount Holyoke College graduates carry a median of $22,041 in student loans.
More information about a degree in ethnic studies from Mount Holyoke College
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #23 position for ethnic studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 104 ethnic studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ethnic studies program make about $31,140 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,747.
See the full ethnic studies program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of California Los Angeles placed #24 among the best ethnic studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 140 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ethnic studies degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $29,914 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the ethnic studies program at University Of California Los Angeles
Amherst College landed the #25 spot for ethnic studies this year. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Amherst College awarded about 12 ethnic studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $40,120. Students borrow a median of $18,032 to complete this degree.
See the full ethnic studies program report for Amherst College
Rest of the Top 50 Ethnic Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong ethnic studies education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 681 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
