Ethnic & Cultural Studies at University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,366/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market
Small (8,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.5x earnings multiple (4.2x 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 | $487K | $488K | $456K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.5x | 8.5x | 8.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 4.2x | 3.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 41% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 27 | 27 | 18 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (4.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,248
36% growth from Year 1
About University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago has a 78% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,814 in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →Top Career Paths
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
$84,290/yr
Interpreters and translators
$59,440/yr
Compare & Explore
Ethnic & Cultural Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Illinois Chicago
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of Illinois Chicago's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program score?
This program scores 27/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →