Ethnic & Cultural Studiesat Loyola Marymount University
Graduates earn $26,868/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Ethnic & Cultural Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $417K; scenarios range from $411K to $402K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Loyola Marymount University
While this degree offers a powerful lens for understanding society, the path to a stable, well-paying career isn't direct. LMU is in Los Angeles, a hub for nonprofits, community advocacy, and social work, which are common destinations for graduates. However, these sectors are notoriously underfunded, leading to modest starting salaries that are difficult to live on in such an expensive city. The skills you develop are in critical thinking and analysis, which don't map neatly onto specific corporate roles without additional training. Many of the listed career paths, like academia, require graduate degrees, meaning more time and expense before you start earning.
Your actionable step: Actively build a vocational skill alongside your studies. Pursue a minor in marketing, data analysis, or public policy, and secure internships in fields like corporate DEI, public relations, or government affairs to translate your academic knowledge into a marketable professional profile.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Loyola Marymount University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Ethnic & Cultural Studies
How Loyola Marymount University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Loyola Marymount University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Loyola Marymount University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Ethnic & Cultural Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Ethnic & Cultural Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Ethnic & Cultural Studies at Loyola Marymount University
How does Loyola Marymount University's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program score?
This program scores 16/100 — 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.
Why are Ethnic & Cultural Studies earnings lower at Loyola Marymount University?
Lower starting pay at Loyola Marymount University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.