Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona's Ethnic Studies program ranks in the top fifth of similar programs statewide, with graduates earning $44,473 by year four—nearly $14,000 above California's median for this degree. At 80th percentile among California programs, it trails only powerhouses like CSU East Bay and Stanford. The debt load is exceptionally manageable at $13,486, less than half the national median and well below California's typical burden for this field.

The standout feature here is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, meaning graduates owe just three months' salary—a remarkably low burden that makes this program accessible even for the 46% of students receiving Pell grants. While the absolute starting salary of $40,253 won't wow anyone, it's competitive for the field and grows steadily. The 11% earnings increase from year one to year four suggests graduates gain traction in their careers rather than hitting an early ceiling.

The major caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's experience could vary significantly. But the combination of low debt, above-average state performance, and reasonable earnings growth makes this a solid choice if they're committed to this field. The risk isn't the debt burden—it's whether the career paths interest them enough to justify any humanities degree's earning trajectory.