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2026 Best Ethnic Studies Doctoral Degree Schools

2026 Best Ethnic Studies Doctoral Degree Schools

Looking for the best Ethnic Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 656 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.

To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.

Top 25 Ethnic Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States

Here are the top-ranked schools:

#1

Brown University

Providence, RI

Brown University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Providence, RI. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Brown University Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $13,025 in debt. Get the full Brown University report

#2

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Out of the 656 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Cornell University landed the #2 spot. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ithaca, NY. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. Get the full Cornell University report

#3

Emory University

Atlanta, GA

The strong Ethnic Studies programs at Emory University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $19,610. Get the full Emory University report

You'll be in good company at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $26,000. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin

Out of the 656 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of California Davis landed the #5 spot. Set in Davis, CA, University Of California Davis is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. See the full University Of California Davis profile

Indiana University Bloomington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. Located in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Indiana University Bloomington Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. More on Indiana University Bloomington

University Of California San Diego did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $23,747. Get the full University Of California San Diego report

University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. University Of Washington Seattle Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. University Of Washington Seattle Campus Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $15,056 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus

University Of California Berkeley came in at #9 in this year's ranking. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $15,740. More on University Of California Berkeley

University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Get the full University Of California Santa Barbara report

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. University Of California Los Angeles posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $15,000. More on University Of California Los Angeles

University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, CA, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $19,747. More on University Of California Santa Cruz

University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Set in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $20,373. See the full University Of Colorado Boulder profile

#14

University Of Arizona

Tucson, AZ

University Of Arizona came in at #14 in this year's ranking. University Of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $25,219. Read more about University Of Arizona

Arizona State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Arizona State University Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $23,000 in debt. See the full Arizona State University profile

Ohio State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Ohio State University Main Campus Ethnic Studies students take on a median of $22,056 in debt. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,448 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. Read more about University Of Illinois At Chicago

#18

Rutgers University New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #18 among Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. The median Ethnic Studies program debt is $26,900. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick

University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical Ethnic Studies student debt is $25,234. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst

#20

University Of Louisville

Louisville, KY

University Of Louisville landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. University Of Louisville posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Graduates carry a median of $32,181 in student loans. More on University Of Louisville

University Of California Riverside did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Riverside, CA. University Of California Riverside posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More on University Of California Riverside

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $25,730 to complete their Ethnic Studies program here. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report

Kapiolani Community College placed #23 among Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. See the full Kapiolani Community College profile

University At Buffalo came in at #24 in this year's ranking. See the full University At Buffalo profile

California State University Channel Islands landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. See the full California State University Channel Islands profile

Rest of the Top 50 Best Ethnic Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:

Williams College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Williams College

Pennsylvania Western University placed #27 among Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania Western University report

Solano Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. See the full Solano Community College profile

Eastern Oklahoma State College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. Read more about Eastern Oklahoma State College

Tufts University landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Tufts University

Blackfeet Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. See the full Blackfeet Community College profile

Depauw University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. More on Depauw University

Lawrence University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lawrence University

Mission College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Mission College report

Rowan University did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Rowan University

California State University East Bay came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on California State University East Bay

Hope College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Hope College profile

Marshall University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. See the full Marshall University profile

Clovis Community College Fresno did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Clovis Community College Fresno

Georgia State University came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Get the full Georgia State University report

Suny Empire State College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on Suny Empire State College

Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University

Cleveland State University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cleveland State University

El Camino Community College District did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on El Camino Community College District

George Washington University placed #45 among Ethnic Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on George Washington University

Saint Marys College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Ethnic Studies schools. More on Saint Marys College

Texas A And M University College Station landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile

Woodland Community College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Woodland Community College

University Of Scranton did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about University Of Scranton

Northwest Vista College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Northwest Vista College

See rankings for other degree levels:

Ranking Methodology & Notes

The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 656 ranked schools only.

References

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