Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University at Albany

UAlbany's Ethnic Studies program produces graduates who earn roughly the median for similar programs in New York, but that state median itself trails the national average by about $1,600—meaning students are comparing themselves against a relatively weak field. While the 60th percentile state ranking sounds respectable, look closer: earnings land just under $30,000 in year one, well below what graduates from Columbia ($55,000) or even CUNY's non-flagship campuses achieve. The debt load of $26,000 is actually manageable relative to peers, sitting at the 27th percentile nationally, which helps keep the immediate post-graduation burden reasonable.

The practical reality is that this degree launches graduates into the workforce at earnings that will require careful budgeting. At 0.87 debt-to-earnings, graduates owe nearly a full year's salary, which becomes workable only if income grows meaningfully over time. For the 42% of students here on Pell grants, that sub-$30,000 starting point may feel particularly tight. The program serves students interested in cultural studies and social justice work, fields where modest early earnings are common, but parents should recognize that career advancement will likely depend on additional credentials or pivoting into adjacent fields like education, nonprofit management, or HR where these skills command higher pay.