Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates earn an average annual wage of $137,183, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 2,930 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.

Key Statistics

407
Total Degrees Awarded (2023)
Not reported in dataset
$12,624
Median In-State Public Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$51,169
Median Out-of-State Private Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$137,183
Average Wage
Not reported in dataset
2,930
People in Workforce
Not reported in dataset
N/A
Average Employee Age
Not reported in dataset

Institutions

Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis and the types of students that study this field.

Tuition Costs for Common Institutions

$12,624 Median In-State Public

$51,169 Median Out of State Private

Tuition costs for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors are, on average, $12,624 for in-state public colleges, and $51,169 for out of state private colleges.

Tuition costs comparison for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis programs.

Degrees Awarded Over Time

407 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023

This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis from 2015 to 2023.

Historical trend of degrees awarded in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.

Top 5 Schools by Enrollment

Schools with the largest enrollment offering Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition

Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price

Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis programs.

Graduation Rates

59.36% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)

57.43% Average Graduation Rate

144 Institutions Reporting

43.88% - 71.16% Interquartile Range

Graduation/completion rates for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis programs across institutions.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.

Yearly Income for Common Jobs

$137,183 Average Wage in Workforce

The average salary for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors is $137,183.

Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors.

Occupations by Share

2,930 2023 Workforce

The number of Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates in the workforce has been growing.

Various jobs filled by those with a major in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis by share of the total number of graduates.

Return on Investment & Value

Financial analysis of Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.

Financial Value Analysis

ROI data is not available for this degree program.

Financial value comparison for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis degree.

Diversity

Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis in the United States.

Workforce Age

N/A Average Age in 2023

This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.

Age distribution for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis degree holders in the workforce.

Gender Distribution

Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.

Gender distribution of Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis degree recipients.

Race and Ethnicity Distribution

Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.

Racial and ethnic distribution of Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis degree recipients.

Degrees Awarded

The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.

Distribution of degree types awarded in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Required Skills

Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.

Rating of how necessary various skills are for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors.

Skills Bar Chart

This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.

Skill importance ratings for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis majors.

About

Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis

In 2023, 407 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.

CIP Code

00.3026 - Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis

Insights and Analysis

High Earning Potential: Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates earn an average annual wage of $137,183, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
    • Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
    • Employment and wage data by occupation
    • Latest data: May 2024
    • Source: bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
    • Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
    • Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
    • Source: onetcenter.org
  • IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
    • Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
  • Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
    • Demographic and workforce data
    • Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
    • Source: census.gov/acs

Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

Methodology

Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.

All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.