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Ethnic & Cultural Minority at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $32,341/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)

Job Market Small (8,000 openings/yr)

ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #29 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 Minority graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$586K	$571K	$509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.8x	9.5x	8.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.2x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	41%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	33	33	25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,860

Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,300

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,250

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,175

80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,341 track close to the $32,228 national median for Ethnic & Cultural Minority programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Ethnic & Cultural Minority's typical career paths, with 69% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,250 in median debt against $32,341 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #29 of 92 Ethnic & Cultural Minority programs, University of California-Santa Barbara scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $58,175 show a 80% jump from the $32,341 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara admits 28% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 23,205 students enrolled in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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

Ethnic & Cultural Minority at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ethnic & Cultural Minority at University of California-Santa Barbara?

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

Will AI replace Ethnic & Cultural Minority careers?

With 69% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $509,084 in decade earnings vs $586,029 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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