Cultural Theory Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Cultural Theory major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Humanities, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Humanities, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$70,433

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$108,293

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$141,528

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 2.7%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,669,385

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1062
Occupation: Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$84,290
11,430
N/A
N/A
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC: 19-3099
Occupation: Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$100,340
36,970
N/A
N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
SOC: 25-1199
Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$78,490
151,530
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

6.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$84,29011,430
2023$86,03011,570
2022$80,9109,340
2021$78,9109,040
2020$78,8409,960

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

15.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$100,34036,970
2023$95,89035,210
2022$88,90033,210
2021$84,43034,330
2020$87,26034,570

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

9.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$78,490151,530
2023$79,870166,980
2022$76,920214,520
2021$78,160199,020
2020$71,950194,740

Colleges offering Cultural Theory

American Public University System

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$11k

Earnings

$61k

Northwestern University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$24k

Earnings

$84k

University of Connecticut

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$66k

Purdue University-Main Campus

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$13k

Earnings

$66k
Featured

Harvard University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$18k

Earnings

$105k