Best Colleges for Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies programs prepare students to examine social identities, power structures, and cultural movements through interdisciplinary research and analysis. With 110 schools offering this major nationwide, graduates typically earn around $29,452 annually, though many pursue advanced degrees or careers in nonprofit work, education, and advocacy where compensation varies widely.

When evaluating programs, students should prioritize faculty diversity and research opportunities that align with their specific interests. Look for curricula that combine theoretical frameworks with hands-on community engagement, strong connections to local organizations, and access to archives or special collections. The best programs offer flexibility to focus on particular populations or themes while maintaining rigorous academic standards and preparing students for graduate study or professional work in social justice fields.

Schools Ranked

$36,381

Avg. Program Earnings

76.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$46,087	95.0%	private-nonprofit
2	Brown University Providence, Rhode Island	$41,565	95.9%	private-nonprofit
3	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$40,458	92.9%	public
4	Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia	$39,369	94.3%	private-nonprofit
5	University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, Massachusetts	$39,009	51.1%	public
6	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado	$38,289	75.0%	public
7	Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California	$37,208	60.5%	public
8	University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island	$36,668	71.0%	public
9	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$35,653	50.1%	public
10	Spelman College Atlanta, Georgia	$35,600	76.1%	private-nonprofit
11	Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire	$35,420	96.0%	private-nonprofit
12	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$35,416	77.8%	public
13	Yale University New Haven, Connecticut	$35,060	96.3%	private-nonprofit
14	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$35,060	73.9%	public
15	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$35,060	96.8%	private-nonprofit
16	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$35,060	88.6%	public
17	Saint Louis University Saint Louis, Missouri	$35,060	79.8%	private-nonprofit
18	CUNY City College New York, New York	$35,060	54.7%	public
19	Rhode Island College Providence, Rhode Island	$35,060	46.2%	public
20	College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina	$35,060	65.0%	public
21	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, New Mexico	$34,420	52.5%	public
22	Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts	$33,993	91.2%	private-nonprofit
23	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$33,459	87.6%	public
24	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$33,281	85.3%	public
25	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$33,138	56.6%	public