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Ethnic & Cultural Studies at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,206/yr (43% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)

Job Market Small (8,000 openings/yr)

ROI 2.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #30 of 92 Ethnic & Cultural Minority programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ethnic & Cultural Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$607K	$588K	$520K
Earnings Multiple	2.7x	2.6x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	41%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	33	22

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$226,172

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$167,780

26% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,897

45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,206 put American University's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program 43% above the national median of $32,228 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Ethnic & Cultural Studies's typical career paths, with 69% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $46,206 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #30 of 92 Ethnic & Cultural Studies programs, American University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $46,206 to $66,897 over five years — a 45% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About American University

A 47% admission rate makes American University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 7,593 in Washington, DC.

See all programs and financial aid at American University →

Top Career Paths

Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary $84,290/yr

Interpreters and translators $59,440/yr

View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ethnic & Cultural Studies at American University?

A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Ethnic & Cultural Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Ethnic & Cultural Studies careers?

With 69% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $520,149 in decade earnings vs $606,832 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →