Best institutions to study Anthropology
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective.
527 U.S. institutions graduated 9,337 Anthropology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0201, a specialization of Anthropology (CIP 45.02), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Anthropology programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Anthropology program offers a comprehensive exploration of human beings, their origins, and cultural behaviors through a systematic study of various aspects of humanity. Students will engage with topics such as biological anthropology, ethnography, and cultural institutions, providing a broad understanding of human diversity and social dynamics. This program is ideal for those interested in understanding the complexities of human societies and cultures.
In this program, students will develop essential skills in writing, critical thinking, and active listening, alongside knowledge in sociology, history, and foreign languages. Coursework will include research methods and applications relevant to fields such as medicine and international affairs, equipping graduates with a well-rounded skill set for various professional paths.
Credentials awarded
What Anthropology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree6,962 graduates / yr · 400 institutions75%
- Associate's degree926 graduates / yr · 125 institutions9.9%
- Master's degree871 graduates / yr · 144 institutions9.3%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship475 graduates / yr · 92 institutions5.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year51 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate15 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.2%
- Award of less than 12 weeks15 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years12 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.1%
- Post-master's certificate10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.1%
Graduates over time
Anthropology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 12,835 |
| 2013 | 13,237 |
| 2014 | 13,120 |
| 2015 | 11,961 |
| 2016 | 11,330 |
| 2017 | 10,648 |
| 2018 | 10,773 |
| 2019 | 10,566 |
| 2020 | 10,745 |
| 2021 | 10,145 |
| 2022 | 9,745 |
| 2023 | 9,467 |
| 2024 | 9,318 |
| 2025 | 9,337 |
Top 50 institutions for Anthropology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 170 | 93% | — | $32,300 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 160 | 0% | — | $31,640 |
| 3 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 154 | 43% | $34,565 | $41,986 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sAward of less than 12 weeksMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 123 | 91% | — | $29,036 |
| 5 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 113 | 78% | — | $26,922 |
| 6 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 108 | 83% | — | $31,420 |
| 7 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 106 | 93% | — | $28,661 |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 104 | 74% | — | $24,772 |
| 9 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 93 | 75% | — | $23,152 |
| 10 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 91 | 77% | — | $24,331 |
| 11 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 86 | 86% | — | $28,059 |
| 12 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 84 | 55% | — | $30,108 |
| 13 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 74 | 87% | — | $30,509 |
| 14 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 73 | 91% | $20,586 | $36,700 |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 72 | 68% | — | $31,640 |
| 16 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 72 | 76% | — | $26,178 |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 68 | 89% | — | $31,369 |
| 18 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NYPublicBachelor's | 66 | 51% | — | $38,879 |
| 19 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 65 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 20 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 65 | 72% | — | $27,775 |
| 21 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 63 | 70% | — | $32,573 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 53% | — | $26,735 |
| 23 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 62 | 65% | — | $27,844 |
| 24 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 61 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 25 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 58 | 57% | — | $26,278 |
| 26 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 58 | 67% | — | $27,178 |
| 27 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 58 | 85% | — | $25,742 |
| 28 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 55 | 74% | — | $36,822 |
| 29 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 53 | 48% | — | $30,011 |
| 30 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 53 | 65% | — | $27,851 |
| 31 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 51 | 69% | — | $22,351 |
| 32 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 51 | 85% | — | $32,778 |
| 33 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 50 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 34 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 50 | 94% | $14,126 | $34,489 |
| 35 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 50 | 51% | — | $33,787 |
| 36 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 49 | 80% | $35,682 | $28,369 |
| 37 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 48 | 85% | — | $31,219 |
| 38 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 48 | 84% | — | $28,202 |
| 39 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 68% | — | $33,094 |
| 40 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 47 | 76% | — | $25,553 |
| 41 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 93% | — | $24,079 |
| 42 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 81% | — | $28,617 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 86% | — | $23,716 |
| 44 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster's | 46 | 39% | — | — |
| 45 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 45 | 55% | — | $31,729 |
| 46 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 45 | 59% | — | $27,831 |
| 47 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 45 | 60% | — | $25,519 |
| 48 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicBachelor's | 44 | 75% | — | $19,624 |
| 49 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 43 | 61% | — | $28,160 |
| 50 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 42 | 61% | — | $20,144 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Anthropology field (CIP 45.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 53 states & territories
Where Anthropology graduates come from. Each state links to all Anthropology programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Anthropology program can pursue careers as anthropologists and archeologists, with a median wage of $64,910. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 800 annual openings. A typical educational requirement for these roles is a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anthropologists and Archeologistsprimary SOC 19-3091 | $70,770 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~800 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1061 | $99,650 | +2.7% About as fast as average | ~500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Anthropology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Anthropology specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Anthropology (CIP 45.02).
- Medical AnthropologyCIP 45.0203301 graduates / yr14 institutions
- AnthropologyCIP 45.0299134 graduates / yr20 institutions
- Forensic AnthropologyCIP 45.0205partial data81 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Cultural AnthropologyCIP 45.020456 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Physical and Biological AnthropologyCIP 45.020255 graduates / yr10 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Anthropology?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Associate's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Anthropology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and research methods.
What careers can I pursue with an Anthropology degree?+
You can work as an anthropologist, archeologist, or a postsecondary teacher in anthropology.
What is the job outlook for anthropologists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7%.
What is the CIP code for Anthropology?+
Anthropology is CIP 45.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Anthropology (CIP 45.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
How many institutions offer Anthropology programs?+
527 U.S. institutions reported Anthropology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 53 states & territories, awarding 9,337 credentials in the year. That is 93.7% of all Anthropology graduates.
How much do Anthropology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation, which Anthropology most directly leads to, pays a median of $70,770 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Anthropology field report median earnings of $27,806 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Anthropology graduates, so its figures match the Anthropology program page.
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