Ethnic & Cultural Studiesat The University of Texas at Austin
Graduates earn $37,046/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Ethnic & Cultural Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $538K; scenarios range from $489K to $547K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UT Austin
While this degree doesn't lead to a single, obvious career path, your earnings potential is higher here than at almost any other program in the field. Why? You're not just at any university; you're at UT Austin. The sheer power of the Longhorn network and the university's elite reputation open doors that data tables can't show. You'll be competing for roles in tech, government, and non-profits against graduates from every major, and the UT brand on your resume gives you an immediate advantage in the booming Austin job market and beyond. The critical thinking and cultural competency skills you develop are highly valued, but they aren't enough on their own. Our advice: from day one, pair this major with internships and a specific skill set—like data analysis, marketing, or public policy—to translate your academic knowledge into a compelling career.
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 UT Austin'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 UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UT Austin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, 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 UT Austin
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ethnic & Cultural Studies at The University of Texas at Austin?
A score of 38/100 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 $488,540 in decade earnings vs $547,402 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program stand out?
Ranked #10 of 92 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.