Ethnic & Cultural Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,856/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market
Small (8,000 openings/yr)
ROI
7.0x earnings multiple (3.2x 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 | $436K | $445K | $429K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 6.8x | 7.0x | 6.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.2x | 3.2x | 3.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 41% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 26 | 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)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (3.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 44% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 34,623 students enrolled in Champaign, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →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 Urbana-Champaign
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 Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
A score of 26/100 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 $429,214 in decade earnings vs $435,871 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →