Best colleges for Anthropology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Sacramento, University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-Santa Barbara are the top bachelor's Anthropology programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - Sacramento leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,460, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Santa Barbara award the most Anthropology degrees in California: 170, 108 and 108 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 135 California colleges offer Anthropology and award 2,174 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,460 | 38 | 56% | — | $20,675 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,300 | 170 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,420 | 108 | 83% | — | $19,500 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,509 | 74 | 87% | — | $16,667 |
| 5 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,364 | 21 | 53% | — | $14,000 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,661 | 108 | 93% | — | $12,949 |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,543 | 67 | 86% | — | $13,958 |
| 8 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,314 | 40 | 50% | — | $17,250 |
| 9 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,059 | 86 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,856 | 28 | 63% | — | $19,833 |
Colleges awarding the most Anthropology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 170 | $32,300 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 108 | $28,661 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 108 | $31,420 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 93 | $23,152 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 86 | $28,059 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 74 | $30,509 |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 74 | $26,178 |
| 8 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 67 | $28,543 |
| 9 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 58 | $26,278 |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 51 | $22,351 |
ShowHide the other 125 California colleges offering Anthropology
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Anthropologists and Archeologists (SOC 19-3091).
Top skills
What Anthropologists and Archeologists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Anthropology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Anthropology degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (170 graduates a year), University of California-Berkeley (108 graduates a year) and University of California-Santa Barbara (108 graduates a year) award the most Anthropology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 135 California colleges offer Anthropology.
What is the best college for Anthropology in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - Sacramento leads among bachelor's Anthropology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,460, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-Santa Barbara follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 170 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Anthropology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Sacramento tops the list at $32,460. Compare it against graduates a year, 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.
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