ROI Major

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Northern Colorado

CO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 05.02

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies degree from University of Northern Colorado earn a median salary of $42,146 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $40,101. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.9 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$31,905

Typical Career

$42,146

Top Performers

$54,615

Estimated break-even: 10.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$281

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,512. Most students can comfortably afford about a $281 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 26.7%
Health Care & Social Assistance 20.2%
Public Administration 7.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$40,101

Nominal: $42,146 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

10.9 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,571 $36,412 $48,487
5 Years After Graduation $31,905 $42,146 $54,615
10 Years After Graduation $52,636 $76,015 $90,782

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $42,146 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,146 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510) = $40,101 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies from the University of Northern Colorado can expect a positive earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $36,412, increasing to $42,146 five years later and reaching $76,015 by the ten-year mark. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $40,100.86, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive financial standing relative to their peers across the country.

The primary industries for graduates are Educational Services (26.7%), Health Care & Social Assistance (20.2%), and Public Administration (7.4%), suggesting a strong alignment with sectors focused on community and social impact. The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high school diploma is approximately 10.9 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment over time. Overall, while the initial earnings may be modest, the long-term financial benefits and career opportunities in meaningful fields present a compelling case for pursuing this degree.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies degree at University of Northern Colorado stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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