by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Ethnic Studies covers Ethnic Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Interdisciplinary And Comparative Study Of The History, Sociology, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of North American Racial And Ethnic Groups, Including African Americans, American Indians/native Americans, Hispanic Americans, And Asian Americans. Examples: [Comparative Ethnic Studies], [Race And Ethnicity]. Read on to learn the key facts every ethnic studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ethnic studies programs.
Across the country, ethnic studies draws strong interest, with 517 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ethnic Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 73 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ethnic studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ethnic studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Ethnic Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ethnic studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a ethnic studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a ethnic studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ethnic studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 139 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 218 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 157 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to ethnic studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ethnic studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in ethnic studies opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to ethnic studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ethnic studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of ethnic studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,619 |
| 4 years | $46,128 |
| 5 years | $53,144 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ethnic studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ethnic studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 73 different ethnic studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ethnic studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering ethnic studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Women’s Studies | 2,746 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 2,431 |
| African-American/Black Studies | 922 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies | 698 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies | 560 |
| Disability Studies | 492 |
| Deaf Studies | 398 |
| Asian-American Studies | 172 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies | 76 |
| Folklore Studies | 64 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
