Best institutions to study Anthropology
Any instructional program in Anthropology not listed above.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 134 Anthropology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0299, a specialization of Anthropology (CIP 45.02), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Anthropology programs
Any instructional program in Anthropology not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Anthropology program offers students an opportunity to explore the diverse aspects of human societies, cultures, and behaviors. This program is designed for those interested in understanding the complexities of human life through various lenses, including social, political, and economic factors. Students will engage in research and fieldwork to gain a comprehensive understanding of different cultural groups.
Core coursework in this program emphasizes critical skills such as writing, speaking, and critical thinking. Students will also develop knowledge in sociology, history, geography, and foreign languages, preparing them for various research and analytical tasks in the field of anthropology.
Credentials awarded
What Anthropology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree59 graduates / yr · 9 institutions44%
- Master's degree34 graduates / yr · 5 institutions25%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year26 graduates / yr · 3 institutions19%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 4 institutions8.2%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.0%
Graduates over time
Anthropology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 142 |
| 2013 | 115 |
| 2014 | 104 |
| 2015 | 109 |
| 2016 | 88 |
| 2017 | 65 |
| 2018 | 112 |
| 2019 | 102 |
| 2020 | 109 |
| 2021 | 113 |
| 2022 | 107 |
| 2023 | 130 |
| 2024 | 140 |
| 2025 | 134 |
Top 20 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 - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 27 | 86% | — | $28,543 |
| 2 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 60% | — | $37,781 |
| 3 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | — | — | — |
| 4 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 11 | 55% | — | $23,341 |
| 5 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor's | 9 | 93% | — | $24,079 |
| 6 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 54% | $25,146 | — |
| 7 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 8 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicDoctoral | 5 | 78% | — | $26,922 |
| 9 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,934 |
| 10 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 65% | — | $27,851 |
| 11 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 74% | $28,855 | — |
| 12 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicMaster's | 3 | 64% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Mary Bismarck, NDPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 67% | $16,753 | — |
| 14 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoral | 2 | 93% | — | $28,661 |
| 15 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 76% | — | $26,178 |
| 16 | Butler University Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 80% | $35,696 | — |
| 17 | College of Charleston Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 66% | — | $26,842 |
| 18 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 19 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 67% | — | — |
| 20 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 88% | — | $28,172 |
* 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 16 states
Where Anthropology graduates come from. Each state links to all Anthropology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | 32 | University of California - San Diego27 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 23 | Boise State University23 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 14 | Teachers College at Columbia University14 / yr |
| Washington | 2 | 11 | Whitman College6 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 11 | University of Maine11 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 9 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 8 | Eastern University8 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 5 | University of Central Florida5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 5 | Boston University5 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 4 | Drake University4 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham3 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 3 | University of Mary3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | Butler University2 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 2 | College of Charleston2 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Ohio State University - Main Campus1 / yr |
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 is about as fast as average, with an estimated 800 annual openings and a typical education requirement of a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0299
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).
- AnthropologyCIP 45.02019,337 graduates / yr527 institutions
- Medical AnthropologyCIP 45.0203301 graduates / yr14 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 degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Anthropology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, active listening, and research methodologies.
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 for anthropologists is about 3.7% growth, with around 800 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Anthropology?+
Anthropology is CIP 45.0299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Anthropology (CIP 45.02). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in Anthropology not listed above.
How many institutions offer Anthropology programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported Anthropology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 134 credentials in the year. That is 1.3% 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 $26,934 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.
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