# Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis

> An interdisciplinary program that focuses on the analysis and critique of culture in its varied forms, including values, ideas, belief systems, and expressive acts, and the relationship between cultural forms, everyday life, and structures of power. Includes instruction in anthropology, communications, history, literary studies, philosophy, political economy, and sociology, as well as recent theories and methodologies such as semiotics, deconstruction, postcolonial studies, gender theory, and ethnography.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/cultural-studies-critical-theory-and-analysis
- CIP code: 30.26 (Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Colleges offering it: 31 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 31 | $39,176 | $37,350 | $18,750 |
| Master's | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Northern Arizona University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northern-arizona-university-1925) | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,350 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-scientists-and-related-workers-all-other): $101,110 median pay
- [Transportation Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-planners): $101,110 median pay
- [Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/area-ethnic-and-cultural-studies-teachers-postsecondary): $85,020 median pay
- [Postsecondary Teachers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postsecondary-teachers-all-other): $77,640 median pay

## More in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

- [Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/multi-interdisciplinary-studies-other): 612 colleges
- [International/Globalization Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-globalization-studies): 360 colleges
- [Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/multi-interdisciplinary-studies-general): 350 colleges
- [Biological and Physical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biological-and-physical-sciences): 202 colleges
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-science): 194 colleges
- [Data Analytics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-analytics): 175 colleges
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sustainability-studies): 150 colleges
- [Nutrition Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/nutrition-sciences): 119 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/