Bachelor's-16% vs national median196 grads tracked
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 100th of 125 bachelor's programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,492
middle 50%: $24,527 – $40,834
Median · 5 years out
$45,751
middle 50%: $34,488 – $65,382
Median · 10 years out
$54,693
middle 50%: $39,467 – $77,901
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Area and Cultural Studies graduates from the University of South Carolina - Columbia earn $32k in year one. Salaries reach $46k by year five and $55k after ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
9.3 yrs
≈ $11,046 total interest
Same major at other universities
State University of New York at Buffalo
$46,912 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$46,777 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$46,739 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$46,171 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$46,142 · 5 yrs out
St. Catherine University
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$45,615 · 5 yrs out
Westfield State University
$45,365 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$45,300 · 5 yrs out
Mary Baldwin University
$45,149 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$44,467 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$44,030 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out