Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 2 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis pays
Career outlook for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates
The job market for the occupations Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | 183,400 | +1.8% | $78,490 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | 40,800 | -1.7% | $100,340 | Bachelor's degree |
| Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary | 14,500 | +2.4% | $84,290 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis vs similar majors
How Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis stacks up against the closest fields in Interdisciplinary Studies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis Interdisciplinary Studies · this major | Human Computer Interaction | Systems Science and Theory | Mathematics and Computer Science | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 22 F | 84 A | 90 A | 92 A |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $44,051 | $122,421 | $110,759 | $93,003 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $21,458 | $76,324 | $69,716 | $56,140 |
| ROI vs cost | -112% | +806% | +710% | +502% |
| Typical debt | $21,125 | $36,897 | $25,199 | $21,409 |
| Colleges offering it | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ | Associate's | $51,589 | $21,125 | +83% | Strong return |
| 2 | Brigham Young University-Hawaii Laie, HI | Associate's | $36,512 | — | -353% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.