Ethnic & Cultural Studiesat University of Hawaii at Manoa
Graduates earn $20,109/yr in their first year — about 38.0% below the national Ethnic & Cultural Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $490K; scenarios range from $457K to $489K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Hawaii at Manoa
While this degree provides a deep understanding of Hawaii's unique cultural landscape, the low earnings reflect a challenging local job market. Unlike on the mainland, Honolulu lacks a large corporate or non-profit headquarters sector that hires humanities graduates for higher-paying roles in policy, advocacy, or consulting. Your career path will likely lead to vital but modestly compensated community-focused work in education, social services, or cultural preservation, often within state agencies or local organizations. The skills you gain are in critical thinking and cultural analysis, not direct vocational training, which means your first job may not have a clear connection to your major.
For a stronger financial outcome, your key action is to actively build a professional skillset alongside your studies. Pursue internships in Honolulu's tourism, government, or business sectors to prove you can apply your cultural knowledge in a practical, professional setting.
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 University of Hawaii at Manoa'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 University of Hawaii at Manoa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Hawaii at Manoa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Hawaii at Manoa, 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa
What does a 17/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Ethnic & Cultural Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
At 17/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Ethnic & Cultural Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Ethnic & Cultural Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
The 69% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa a good choice for Ethnic & Cultural Studies despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of Hawaii at Manoa's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.