Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's Ethnic Studies program shows a trajectory that should interest parents worried about initial earnings: while first-year graduates earn $30,296—essentially matching both state and national medians—four years out they're making $54,339, a 79% jump that far outpaces typical growth for this degree. Among New Jersey's twelve programs in this field, this ranks at the 60th percentile, meaning it performs better than most in-state alternatives. The relatively low debt load of $26,900 (11th percentile nationally, meaning lower than 89% of programs) keeps that first year manageable with a 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The real question is whether your student can weather that initial period. Thirty thousand dollars in a high-cost-of-living state like New Jersey requires either family support or substantial side income. However, the earnings pattern suggests graduates build valuable skills or credentials that become increasingly marketable—by year four, they're earning nearly double the national median for this field. This isn't a program where early career earnings tell the whole story.

For families who can support their student through those first few years and who value this area of study, the combination of Rutgers' reputation, competitive in-state positioning, and strong earnings acceleration makes this a defensible choice. Just ensure your student has a clear plan for translating the degree into employment, since those early earnings won't cover much margin for error.