Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The most striking feature here isn't the numbers themselves—it's what they reveal about Nebraska's limited market for this field. With only four schools offering this degree statewide and fewer than 30 graduates tracked, UNL's program sits at the 60th percentile in Nebraska yet the 5th percentile nationally. That stark contrast tells you this is a degree path where location matters enormously: what's median performance in Nebraska translates to bottom-tier outcomes nationally.

Starting at $21,836 puts graduates well below the poverty line for a family of three, and while earnings do grow 38% to $30,046 by year four, that's still roughly half what the typical graduate in this field earns nationally ($31,459 in year one). The debt load of $20,527 is actually moderate—nearly equal to first-year earnings—but when those earnings are this low in absolute terms, even manageable debt becomes a strain. Geographic context matters here: if your child plans to stay in Nebraska after graduation, these outcomes might reflect realistic local opportunities. But if they're hoping to leverage this degree in markets where cultural studies professionals typically earn more, they'll be competing from a significant disadvantage.

If your child is passionate about this field, they need a clear plan for how this degree connects to specific career goals that can support them financially. The small sample size means individual outcomes likely vary widely, but the Nebraska-national gap suggests fundamental market realities you can't ignore.