Anthropology

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$30,192
Median Earnings
$46,328
Schools Offering
200
ROI Grade
D

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $41,767Median: $46,32875th: $53,042

Best Schools for Anthropology by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private
$83,493
2Duke University
NC · Private
$81,120
3Emory University
GA · Private
$78,768
4Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private
$71,018
5Dartmouth College
NH · Private
$70,846
6Fordham University
NY · Private
$66,562
7George Washington University
DC · Private
$65,172
8University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
$64,359
9Sonoma State University
CA · Public
$62,674
10San Francisco State University
CA · Public
$61,300
11James Madison University
VA · Public
$60,841
12CUNY Lehman College
NY · Public
$60,488
13Loyola University Chicago
IL · Private
$59,024
14Stony Brook University
NY · Public
$58,329
15Brandeis University
MA · Private
$57,423
16University of California-San Diego
CA · Public
$56,982
17Tulane University of Louisiana
LA · Private
$56,847
18University of California-Davis
CA · Public
$56,836
19University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NC · Public
$56,589
20Rutgers University-New Brunswick
NJ · Public
$56,468
21Rutgers University-Newark
NJ · Public
$56,468
22University of California-Santa Barbara
CA · Public
$56,238
23SUNY Oneonta
NY · Public
$55,981
24Georgia Southern University
GA · Public
$55,879
25Monmouth University
NJ · Private
$55,868
26Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
$55,624
27University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
OK · Public
$55,399
28University of Colorado Boulder
CO · Public
$55,217
29University of Connecticut
CT · Public
$54,907
30University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
CT · Public
$54,907
31University of Connecticut-Avery Point
CT · Public
$54,907
32University of Connecticut-Stamford
CT · Public
$54,907
33University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
CT · Public
$54,907
34University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
$54,905
35Northern Illinois University
IL · Public
$54,890
36University of Wisconsin-Madison
WI · Public
$54,773
37California State University-Fullerton
CA · Public
$54,092
38San Diego State University
CA · Public
$53,991
39Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
PA · Public
$53,927
40Boston University
MA · Private
$53,722
41College of Charleston
SC · Public
$53,567
42Binghamton University
NY · Public
$53,460
43University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
$53,212
44Syracuse University
NY · Private
$53,196
45Metropolitan State University of Denver
CO · Public
$53,125
46University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
$53,042
47University of Maryland-College Park
MD · Public
$53,038
48American University
DC · Private
$53,036
49University of California-Santa Cruz
CA · Public
$52,315
50Texas A&M University-College Station
TX · Public
$52,227
Poor Value

Is Anthropology Worth It?

Passion Play - Manage the Cost

The financial data for Anthropology is concerning. Average earnings of $30,192 four years after graduation make it difficult to justify high tuition. If this is your passion, pursue it - but minimize debt aggressively. Consider in-state public schools or scholarship opportunities that bring the net cost down substantially.

200 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is Columbia University in the City of New York, where graduates earn $83,493 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.