Anthropology: California State University-Fullerton vs CUNY Lehman College

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
12.7x
$28,292 tuition
14.7x
$29,640 tuition
Out-of-State
4.7x
$75,812 tuition
7.1x
$61,440 tuition
$26,794/yr starting · Public
$38,879/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California State University-Fullerton CUNY Lehman College
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.7x 14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 7.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $28,292 $29,640
Year 1 Earnings $26,794 $38,879
10-Year Earnings $360K $436K
Median Debt $16,419 $10,663
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 7.4 months 3.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 57/100 67/100
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 55.4%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Anthropology graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Anthropology graduates.

California State University-Fullerton CUNY Lehman College
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $28,292 $29,640
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,812 $61,440
10-Year Projected Earnings $360K $436K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.7x 14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 7.1x
5-Year Salary Growth +93% +44%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Anthropology (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California State University-Fullerton CUNY Lehman College
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $626K $360K $201K $605K $436K $291K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 22.1x 12.7x 7.1x 20.4x 14.7x 9.8x
DegreeWorth Score 61 57 47 69 67 61

For the full AI analysis of Anthropology career paths, see the California State University-Fullerton or CUNY Lehman College program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Anthropology graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$1,348
California State University-Fullerton saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$12,085/yr
CUNY Lehman College grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
12.7x / 14.7x
Out-of-state: 4.7x / 7.1x

Career Paths

Anthropology graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590 9,600 +8.7% 52%
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary $95,770 500 +2.7% 52%
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary $84,290 1,100 +2.4% 50%
Forensic science technicians $67,440 2,900 +12.8% 39%
Anthropologists and archeologists $64,910 800 +3.7% 44%

Explore Each Program

More Anthropology Comparisons

Anthropology Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Anthropology: California State University-Fullerton or CUNY Lehman College?
California State University-Fullerton scores 57/100 while CUNY Lehman College scores 67/100. California State University-Fullerton has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Anthropology?
California State University-Fullerton has an in-state earnings multiple of 12.7x vs CUNY Lehman College's 14.7x. That means CUNY Lehman College grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State University-Fullerton and CUNY Lehman College compare on Anthropology earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $26,794 at California State University-Fullerton vs $38,879 at CUNY Lehman College. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $359,600 vs $436,307 — a difference of $76,707.
How much does Anthropology cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $28,292 at California State University-Fullerton and $29,640 at CUNY Lehman College. Median debt at graduation is $16,419 vs $10,663. Both programs lead to the same Anthropology career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.