Best institutions to study Cultural Anthropology
A program that focuses on the study of culture and the relationship of culture to other aspects of social life.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 56 Cultural Anthropology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0204, a specialization of Anthropology (CIP 45.02), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Cultural Anthropology programs
A program that focuses on the study of culture and the relationship of culture to other aspects of social life. Includes instruction in cultural anthropology, anthropological theory, enthnography, linguistics, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Cultural Anthropology program, a subset of the broader field of Anthropology, focuses on the study of culture and its relationship to various aspects of social life. This program is designed for students interested in understanding diverse cultures, social structures, and human behavior through qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Students in this program will gain core skills in writing, speaking, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework typically includes cultural anthropology, anthropological theory, ethnography, and research methodologies, equipping students with the knowledge to analyze and interpret cultural phenomena.
Credentials awarded
What Cultural Anthropology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree22 graduates / yr · 7 institutions39%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year17 graduates / yr · 4 institutions30%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 2 institutions27%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.6%
Graduates over time
Cultural Anthropology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2015 | 69 |
| 2016 | 62 |
| 2017 | 60 |
| 2018 | 67 |
| 2019 | 52 |
| 2020 | 65 |
| 2021 | 71 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2023 | 79 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 56 |
Top 12 institutions for Cultural 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 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 18 | 69% | $54,185 | — |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 58% | — | $27,283 |
| 3 | Brigham Young University - Hawaii Laie, HIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 53% | $13,884 | — |
| 4 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 5 | 85% | — | $32,778 |
| 5 | Stonehill College Easton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 76% | $24,000 | — |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 42% | — | — |
| 8 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 63% | — | $24,228 |
| 9 | Arcadia University Glenside, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 67% | $23,796 | — |
| 10 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZPublicBachelor's | 1 | 11% | $26,445 | $34,382 |
| 11 | University of Southern Maine Portland, MEPublicBachelor's | 1 | 40% | — | — |
| 12 | Creighton University Omaha, NEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 83% | $27,353 | — |
* 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 11 states
Where Cultural Anthropology graduates come from. Each state links to all Anthropology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 18 | The New School18 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 12 | Missouri State University - Springfield10 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 8 | Brigham Young University - Hawaii8 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | Stonehill College3 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 3 | Rowan University3 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 2 | East Carolina University2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Arcadia University2 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | The University of Arizona Global Campus1 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 1 | University of Southern Maine1 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | Creighton University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Cultural Anthropology often 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 expected growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 800 annual openings. A master's degree is typically required for advanced positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0204
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 |
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional 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 Cultural 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
- AnthropologyCIP 45.0299134 graduates / yr20 institutions
- Forensic AnthropologyCIP 45.0205partial data81 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Physical and Biological AnthropologyCIP 45.020255 graduates / yr10 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Cultural Anthropology?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, active listening, and research methods.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Cultural Anthropology?+
You can become an anthropologist, archeologist, or a teacher in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for Cultural Anthropology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and around 800 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Cultural Anthropology?+
Cultural Anthropology is CIP 45.0204 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 study of culture and the relationship of culture to other aspects of social life. Includes instruction in cultural anthropology, anthropological theory, enthnography, linguistics, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.
How many institutions offer Cultural Anthropology programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Cultural Anthropology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 56 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Anthropology graduates.
How much do Cultural Anthropology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation, which Cultural 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 $32,778 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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