Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis at Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
42
Optimistic
34
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$21,458/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (34% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (17,800 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $697K | $325K | $175K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.8x | 6.4x | 3.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.0x | 2.8x | 1.5x |
| Viable Career Paths | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 42 | 34 | 29 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$50,608
Out-of-state: $115,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,125
11.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,589
140% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 17,800 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | $100,340 | 3,200 | -1.7% | 52% |
| Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary | $84,290 | 1,100 | +2.4% | 50% |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $78,490 | 13,500 | +1.8% | 0% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis at Northern Arizona University?
This program scores 34/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 42 (optimistic) to 29 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates retain 3 of 3 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $175,083 (pessimistic) to $696,776 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis graduates?
The career paths mapped to Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis have roughly 17,800 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a medium job market.
Is Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis at Northern Arizona University worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 6.4x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 3.5x. The spread between scenarios tells you how sensitive this degree is to AI disruption.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2025.