Best institutions to study Medical Anthropology
A program that focuses on biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors as they relate to health, illness, medical practices, and access to health care services.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 301 Medical Anthropology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0203, a specialization of Anthropology (CIP 45.02), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Medical Anthropology programs
A program that focuses on biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors as they relate to health, illness, medical practices, and access to health care services. Includes instruction in ethno-medicine, urban health, international health, psychiatric and psychological anthropology, aging, and health and identity.
See also: 51.3299 - Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Other.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Medical Anthropology program, a specialization within Anthropology, explores the interplay of biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors in relation to health and illness. This program is designed for students interested in understanding medical practices and access to healthcare services through a cultural lens.
Students in this program will acquire skills in writing, critical thinking, and active listening, alongside knowledge in sociology, anthropology, and geography. Coursework may include topics such as ethno-medicine, urban health, and psychiatric anthropology.
Credentials awarded
What Medical Anthropology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree201 graduates / yr · 8 institutions67%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year90 graduates / yr · 4 institutions30%
- Master's degree8 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.7%
Graduates over time
Medical Anthropology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2017 | 52 |
| 2018 | 82 |
| 2019 | 74 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2021 | 148 |
| 2022 | 189 |
| 2023 | 221 |
| 2024 | 280 |
| 2025 | 301 |
Top 14 institutions for Medical 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor's | 58 | 91% | — | $36,211 |
| 2 | SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NYPublicBachelor's | 52 | 71% | — | $26,218 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 68% | — | $31,640 |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 44 | 94% | $14,126 | $34,489 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 31 | 0% | — | $31,640 |
| 6 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 21 | 88% | — | $28,172 |
| 7 | Creighton University Omaha, NEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 83% | $27,353 | — |
| 8 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 9 | 39% | — | — |
| 9 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicMaster's | 8 | 82% | — | $30,978 |
| 10 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,934 |
| 11 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 12 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 13 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | $30,225 | — |
| 14 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 60% | — | — |
* 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 12 states
Where Medical Anthropology graduates come from. Each state links to all Anthropology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2 | 81 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion50 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 60 | SUNY College at Geneseo52 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 58 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill58 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 44 | Washington University in St Louis44 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 21 | Ohio State University - Main Campus21 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 13 | Creighton University13 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 9 | Idaho State University9 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 7 | Boston University7 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 4 | Swarthmore College4 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 2 | University of Miami2 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | American University1 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 1 | University of South Dakota1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Medical Anthropology typically pursue careers as anthropologists and archeologists, with an average annual wage of $64,910. The field is expected to grow at a rate of 3.7%, with approximately 800 annual job openings, often requiring a Master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0203
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 Medical 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
- 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 Medical 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 methodologies.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Medical Anthropology?+
You can work as an anthropologist, archeologist, or a postsecondary teacher in anthropology.
What is the job outlook for Medical 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 Medical Anthropology?+
Medical Anthropology is CIP 45.0203 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 biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors as they relate to health, illness, medical practices, and access to health care services. Includes instruction in ethno-medicine, urban health, international health, psychiatric and psychological anthropology, aging, and health and identity.
How many institutions offer Medical Anthropology programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Medical Anthropology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 301 credentials in the year. That is 3.0% of all Anthropology graduates.
How much do Medical Anthropology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation, which Medical 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 $31,640 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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