Ethnic & Cultural Studies at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,844/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market
Small (8,000 openings/yr)
ROI
13.8x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
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 | $425K | $436K | $423K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.4x | 13.8x | 13.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.4x | 5.5x | 5.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 41% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 28 | 20 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (5.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
With 99% of applicants admitted, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt prioritizes broad access, enrolling 5,491 students in Arcata, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →Top Career Paths
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
$84,290/yr
Interpreters and translators
$59,440/yr
Compare & Explore
Ethnic & Cultural Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Ethnic & Cultural Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Ethnic & Cultural Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Ethnic & Cultural Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →