Ethnic & Cultural Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,607/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market
Small (8,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.1x earnings multiple (3.4x 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 | $543K | $535K | $486K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.3x | 8.1x | 7.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.5x | 3.4x | 3.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 41% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 26 | 19 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,998
10.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,484
74% growth from Year 1
About Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 20,797 students enrolled in Richmond, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →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
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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
How does Virginia Commonwealth University's Ethnic & Cultural Studies program score?
This program scores 26/100 — 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 →