Ethnic & Cultural Studies at University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings
$31,140/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market
Small (8,000 openings/yr)
ROI
9.7x earnings multiple (3.1x 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 | $578K | $564K | $505K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.7x | 8.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.2x | 3.1x | 2.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 41% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 31 | 31 | 24 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,240
Out-of-state: $181,348 (3.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,551
82% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Cruz
With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Santa Cruz is moderately selective, enrolling 17,812 students in Santa Cruz, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Cruz →Top Career Paths
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
$84,290/yr
Interpreters and translators
$59,440/yr
Compare & Explore
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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
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 University of California-Santa Cruz?
A score of 31/100 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 $504,807 in decade earnings vs $577,988 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →