Best institutions to study Forensic Anthropology
A program that focuses on the application of the biological sciences and skeletal anthropology in medicolegal death investigations.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 81 Forensic Anthropology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0205, a specialization of Anthropology (CIP 45.02), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Forensic Anthropology programs
A program that focuses on the application of the biological sciences and skeletal anthropology in medicolegal death investigations. Includes instruction in biological anthropology theory, crime scene investigation, forensic anthropology field methods, forensic anthropological techniques and procedures, human anatomy, methods of human identification, mortuary archaeology, osteology, and taphonomy.
See also: 43.0406 - Forensic Science and Technology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forensic Anthropology program, a subset of Anthropology, focuses on the application of biological sciences and skeletal anthropology in medicolegal death investigations. This program is designed for students interested in understanding human remains and their significance in legal contexts, making it ideal for those pursuing careers in forensic science and anthropology.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in biological anthropology theory, forensic anthropology field methods, human anatomy, and techniques for human identification. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active learning, and research skills essential for analyzing social patterns and processes.
Credentials awarded
What Forensic Anthropology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years37 graduates / yr · 1 institution46%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year24 graduates / yr · 4 institutions30%
- Bachelor's degree12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions15%
- Master's degree8 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.9%
Graduates over time
Forensic Anthropology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 58 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 81 |
CIP 45.0205 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 7 institutions for Forensic 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 University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 37 | 48% | — | $30,011 |
| 2 | Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 66% | $24,453 | — |
| 3 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 60% | — | — |
| 4 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,934 |
| 5 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 63% | — | $24,228 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 46% | — | — |
| 7 | Meredith College Raleigh, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 70% | $19,552 | — |
* 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 6 states
Where Forensic Anthropology graduates come from. Each state links to all Anthropology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 1 | 37 | The University of Montana37 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 15 | Waynesburg University15 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 9 | University of South Dakota9 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 8 | Boston University8 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 7 | East Carolina University6 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 5 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forensic 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 expected growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 800 annual openings. A typical education requirement is a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0205
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 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 | $72,060 | +12.8% Much faster than average | ~2,900 | 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 Forensic 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
- Cultural AnthropologyCIP 45.020456 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Physical and Biological AnthropologyCIP 45.020255 graduates / yr10 institutions
Common questions
What is forensic anthropology?+
Forensic anthropology applies biological sciences and skeletal analysis to medicolegal death investigations.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, research, and data analysis.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an anthropologist, forensic science technician, or educator in anthropology.
What is the job outlook for forensic anthropology?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and around 800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Forensic Anthropology?+
Forensic Anthropology is CIP 45.0205 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 application of the biological sciences and skeletal anthropology in medicolegal death investigations. Includes instruction in biological anthropology theory, crime scene investigation, forensic anthropology field methods, forensic anthropological techniques and procedures, human anatomy, methods of human identification, mortuary archaeology, osteology, and taphonomy.
How many institutions offer Forensic Anthropology programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Forensic Anthropology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 81 credentials in the year. That is 0.8% of all Anthropology graduates.
How much do Forensic Anthropology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation, which Forensic 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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