Best institutions to study Comparative Group Studies
A program that focuses on the comparative study of the history, literature, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of different groups such as racial, gender, sexual, class, ethnic, geographical, and national.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Comparative Group Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0212, a specialization of Ethnic (CIP 05.02), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About Comparative Group Studies programs
A program that focuses on the comparative study of the history, literature, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of different groups such as racial, gender, sexual, class, ethnic, geographical, and national. Includes instruction in comparative studies, comparative literature, critical race theory, cultural anthropology, cultural studies, religious studies, science studies, social and cultural theory, urban studies, and visual culture.
See also: 30.2601 - Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Comparative Group Studies program, part of the Ethnic field, offers an in-depth exploration of the history, culture, and socio-political dynamics of various groups, including racial, gender, and ethnic communities. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of identity and group interactions within diverse societies.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and active listening. Coursework covers a range of topics including comparative studies, cultural anthropology, and social theory, equipping graduates with a robust understanding of cultural dynamics.
Credentials awarded
What Comparative Group Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree27 graduates / yr · 4 institutions64%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year7 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
Graduates over time
Comparative Group Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 42 |
CIP 05.0212 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 7 institutions for Comparative Group Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 50% | — | $31,001 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 13 | 51% | — | — |
| 3 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 84% | $26,083 | — |
| 4 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 91% | $20,918 | — |
| 5 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicDoctoral | 1 | 74% | — | — |
| 6 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 7 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicBachelor's | 1 | 64% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ethnic field (CIP 05.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Comparative Group Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 13 | San Francisco State University13 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 13 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point13 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 11 | Mount Holyoke College11 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | Middlebury College2 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 1 | University of Colorado Boulder1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | University at Buffalo1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Kent State University at Kent1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Comparative Group Studies program often pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies. With an annual job growth outlook of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings, the median wage for these positions is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0212
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Comparative Group Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Ethnic specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ethnic (CIP 05.02).
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesCIP 05.02992,170 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Women's StudiesCIP 05.02072,141 graduates / yr300 institutions
- African-American/CIP 05.0201
Black Studies 764 graduates / yr164 institutions - Disability StudiesCIP 05.0210583 graduates / yr28 institutions
- American Indian/CIP 05.0202
Native American Studies 528 graduates / yr87 institutions - Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/CIP 05.0203
Chicano Studies 510 graduates / yr54 institutions - Ethnic StudiesCIP 05.0200505 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Deaf StudiesCIP 05.0211474 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Asian-American StudiesCIP 05.0206129 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Gay/CIP 05.0208
Lesbian Studies 75 graduates / yr17 institutions - Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a postsecondary teacher in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Comparative Group Studies?+
Comparative Group Studies is CIP 05.0212 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ethnic (CIP 05.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the comparative study of the history, literature, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of different groups such as racial, gender, sexual, class, ethnic, geographical, and national. Includes instruction in comparative studies, comparative literature, critical race theory, cultural anthropology, cultural studies, religious studies, science studies, social and cultural theory, urban studies, and visual culture.
How many institutions offer Comparative Group Studies programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Comparative Group Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Comparative Group Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Comparative Group Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ethnic field report median earnings of $31,001 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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