Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Massachusetts-Boston

UMass Boston's Ethnic Studies program posts surprisingly strong earnings for the field—$41,872 in the first year puts it in the 95th percentile nationally, well above the typical $31,459. The debt load of just under $27,000 is manageable given those earnings, creating a debt-to-first-year-income ratio of 0.64 that looks quite reasonable. However, there's an important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample.

What's interesting is the state-level perspective. While this program crushes the national average, it sits right around the middle (60th percentile) among Massachusetts schools—and Massachusetts has 24 programs to choose from, including Wellesley's $43,926 median. Still, the combination of relatively low debt and above-average earnings growth (7% from year one to year four) suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market rather than struggling post-graduation.

For an anxious parent, the takeaway is this: the numbers look solid on paper, but treat them as directional rather than definitive given the small sample size. UMass Boston's 83% admission rate and 43% Pell grant population suggest an accessible path to a degree that, at least for recent graduates, has delivered reasonable economic outcomes in a field that often struggles with lower earnings.