Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Puget Sound

University of Puget Sound graduates in this field earn $25,623 one year after graduation—about $6,000 less than the typical Washington graduate in the same program and nearly $6,000 below the national median. This puts the program in the bottom quarter statewide, lagging behind all three University of Washington campuses where graduates earn $31,459. For a school with a relatively selective student body (average SAT of 1332), these outcomes are surprisingly weak.

The debt picture offers a partial silver lining. At $21,215, borrowing sits well below Washington's state median of $15,056 for this field—though that's likely cold comfort given the low earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 means graduates carry nearly a full year's salary in debt, which becomes manageable only if earnings grow substantially over time. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these numbers reflect real patterns rather than statistical noise.

For parents considering this investment, the core issue is straightforward: you're paying private school prices (even with financial aid) for earnings that trail public university alternatives by 20%. Unless your student has compelling reasons to choose Puget Sound specifically—strong faculty relationships, particular research opportunities, or significant merit aid that changes the financial equation—the state's flagship programs deliver better measurable outcomes in this field.