Best colleges for Anthropology
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Anthropology by graduate earnings are Dartmouth College ($40,071), CUNY Lehman College ($38,879) and George Mason University ($37,081), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH): $40,071, 41 graduates a year
- CUNY Lehman College (Bronx, NY): $38,879, 66 graduates a year
- George Mason University (Fairfax, VA): $37,081, 26 graduates a year
- Rutgers University - New Brunswick (New Brunswick, NJ): $36,978, 22 graduates a year
- University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, CO): $36,822, 55 graduates a year
Compare 543 U.S. colleges offering Anthropology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Anthropology programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,831 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 45.02 and the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Anthropology programs
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 history. This program is ideal for those interested in understanding the complexities of human life and cultural diversity.
Core skills developed in this program include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Students will gain knowledge in sociology, anthropology, history, and geography, along with practical experience in research methodologies and data analysis.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,071 | 41 | 96% | $14,689 | $14,363 |
| 2 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,879 | 66 | 51% | — | $13,722 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,081 | 26 | 68% | — | $23,937 |
| 4 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,978 | 22 | 84% | — | $26,750 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,822 | 55 | 74% | — | $20,000 |
| 6 | Emory University Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,700 | 73 | 91% | $20,586 | $21,515 |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,565 | 20 | 49% | — | $24,362 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,211 | 88 | 91% | — | $11,982 |
| 9 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,390 | 33 | 86% | $25,074 | $26,000 |
| 10 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,862 | 28 | 53% | — | $23,500 |
| 11 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,669 | 36 | 65% | — | $22,750 |
| 12 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,489 | 94 | 94% | $14,126 | $15,000 |
| 13 | Wichita State University Wichita, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,275 | 24 | 51% | — | $25,000 |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,837 | 34 | 89% | — | $20,070 |
| 15 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,787 | 50 | 51% | — | $15,379 |
| 16 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,758 | 35 | 83% | — | $18,500 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,261 | 28 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,208 | 25 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 19 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,094 | 47 | 68% | — | $24,269 |
| 20 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,778 | 56 | 85% | — | $12,000 |
| 21 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,573 | 63 | 70% | — | $27,799 |
| 22 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,460 | 38 | 56% | — | $20,675 |
| 23 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,300 | 170 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 24 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,926 | 27 | 75% | — | $17,600 |
| 25 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,729 | 45 | 55% | — | $23,814 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise State University Boise, ID Public · Certificate | $37,781 | 45 | 60% | — | $29,572 |
Specializations within Anthropology
6 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 45.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- AnthropologyCIP 45.02019,337 graduates / yr527 institutions53 states
- Medical AnthropologyCIP 45.0203301 graduates / yr14 institutions12 states
- AnthropologyCIP 45.0299134 graduates / yr20 institutions16 states
- Forensic AnthropologyCIP 45.0205New in CIP 2020partial data81 graduates / yr7 institutions6 states
- Cultural AnthropologyCIP 45.020456 graduates / yr12 institutions11 states
- Physical and Biological AnthropologyCIP 45.020255 graduates / yr10 institutions8 states
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Anthropology program can pursue various careers in research, education, and cultural analysis. The field is projected to grow at a rate of 3.7%, with approximately 800 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $64,910, typically requiring a master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Anthropology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 45.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 45.02 (Anthropology) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 19-1042 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists |
| 19-3091 | Anthropologists and Archeologistsprimary |
| 19-4092 | Forensic Science Technicians |
| 25-1061 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1062 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Anthropology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
Common questions
What specializations are available in Anthropology?+
Specializations include Cultural Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and active learning.
What is the job outlook for Anthropology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 800 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A master's degree is typically required for careers in Anthropology.
How much do Anthropology graduates earn?+
Anthropology graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,831, College Scorecard (2019); the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation pays about $75,620 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Anthropology?+
Anthropology maps to CIP 45.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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