Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

The standout feature here is what happens after year one: graduates see their earnings jump 59% by year four, reaching nearly $50,000. That trajectory matters more than the modest $31,459 starting salary, which matches the national median for this field but lags behind liberal arts degrees generally.

UW-Tacoma's real advantage is debt. At $15,056, graduates owe roughly one-third what their peers at other programs typically carry ($23,000 nationally). Among Washington's 13 programs in this field, this ranks at the state median for both earnings and debt—though it notably outperforms schools like University of Puget Sound despite similar mission profiles. The 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers could realistically pay off loans within a year or two of graduation, even at entry-level salaries.

The tradeoff is clear: expect a slow first year financially, likely in nonprofit or community work, followed by meaningful salary growth as graduates establish themselves. For families comfortable with a $31,000 starting point and patient about earnings growth, the low debt burden makes this substantially less risky than most cultural studies programs. The moderate sample size suggests steady enrollment, and with 40% of students receiving Pell grants, the campus serves many first-generation students who may particularly value the accessible debt load.