California · Anthropology

Best institutions to study Anthropology in California

The Anthropology program offers an in-depth exploration of humanity through the lenses of biology and sociology. Students will study human behavior, cultures, societies, and linguistics, both in contemporary contexts and throughout…

Institutions
135
offering CIP 45.02
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,174
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$29,364
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
22
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,171
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Anthropologists and Archeologists
$77,230
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,4603856%$20,675
2University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,30017093%$15,000
3Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,7441258%$19,249
4University of California - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,42010883%$19,500
5University of California - Irvine
Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,5097487%$16,667
6California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,3642153%$14,000
7University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,66110893%$12,949
8University of California - San Diego
La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,5436786%$13,958
9San Francisco State University
San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,3144050%$17,250
10University of California - Davis
Davis Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,0598686%$15,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Anthropologists and Archeologists (SOC 19-3091).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.7%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$64,910
typically Master's degree

Top skills

WritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Anthropologists and Archeologists earn in California

Jobs in California
2,060
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$77,230
median $72,240
Best-paying metro
$88,170
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Related careers

Forensic Science Technicians
$104,960 avg · 2,800 jobs
Anthropologists and Archeologists
$77,230 avg · 2,060 jobs
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$122,400 avg · 770 jobs
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
$132,310 avg · 630 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Anthropology programs in California.

Which Anthropology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California State University - Sacramento tops the list at $32,460. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Anthropologists and Archeologists earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists in California is $77,230 (median $72,240), across about 2,060 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Anthropology program?+

The Anthropology program offers an in-depth exploration of humanity through the lenses of biology and sociology. Students will study human behavior, cultures, societies, and linguistics, both in contemporary contexts and throughout…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop writing, speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Anthropologists and Archeologists?+

The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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