Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at Amherst College

Amherst's Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies program reports earnings that land in the 92nd percentile nationally—$40,120 versus a national median of $31,459. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers reflect a very small snapshot. The more revealing comparison might be Massachusetts itself, where Amherst sits right at the state median, trailing programs at Wellesley and UMass-Boston. At this elite institution (10% admission rate, 1494 average SAT), graduates might reasonably expect to outpace state averages more decisively.

The $18,032 debt figure looks manageable at first glance—a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates earn roughly $2.20 for every dollar borrowed. But this debt level actually falls in the 78th percentile nationally, meaning most similar programs send students out with less debt. For a school with Amherst's resources and 22% Pell grant enrollment, that's worth noting.

The fundamental question is whether this small sample truly represents typical outcomes. With limited data points, one or two unusual career paths could swing these numbers significantly. For an anxious parent, the takeaway is this: Amherst's prestige and network should open doors, but these particular figures don't prove that ethnic studies majors here consistently command premium earnings compared to peer institutions in Massachusetts.