Anthropology Degree

178 schools compared · Average earnings $28,155/yr

Students study human cultures, societies, and biological evolution across time and geography, using methods including ethnography, archaeology, and linguistic analysis. Graduates typically pursue careers in cultural resource management, museum curation, international development, UX research, market research, and academic anthropology. Anthropological skills in understanding human behavior and culture are increasingly valued in tech companies and design firms.

What Anthropology Graduates Do

Your degree in anthropology trains you to decode human behavior, a skill that translates into surprisingly varied careers. While a fraction of graduates become university professors, many find faster-growing opportunities elsewhere. You might become a medical scientist, designing studies that explore how cultural practices impact public health outcomes. Or you could work as a forensic science technician, meticulously analyzing evidence to help solve crimes. Many leverage their understanding of group dynamics to become managers, guiding teams and shaping organizational culture in government or private industry.

Entry-level roles often begin with research or fieldwork assistance. To advance to a lead scientist or senior manager, you’ll typically need specialized experience or a graduate degree. It’s important to note that roles in medical and forensic science are expanding much faster than traditional academic positions. AI's impact across these fields is moderate; it will automate significant chunks of routine work like data analysis and transcription, changing your daily tasks. Your career advantage will lie in interpreting that data, understanding cultural nuance, and making complex human judgments—skills that algorithms can’t replicate.

Schools Offering
178
Avg Grad Earnings
$28,155/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
34/100
AI Automation Risk
High
52% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Anthropology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 121,600 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K$179K
106,700 +4.5% 47%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590
$77K$134K
9,600 +8.7% 52%
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
$95,770
$67K$123K
500 +2.7% 52%
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
$84,290
$64K$108K
1,100 +2.4% 50%
Forensic science technicians
$67,440
$53K$89K
2,900 +12.8% 39%
Anthropologists and archeologists
$64,910
$51K$83K
800 +3.7% 44%
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K $179K
106,700 openings/yr +4.5% growth 47% AI risk
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590
$77K $134K
9,600 openings/yr +8.7% growth 52% AI risk
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
$95,770
$67K $123K
500 openings/yr +2.7% growth 52% AI risk
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
$84,290
$64K $108K
1,100 openings/yr +2.4% growth 50% AI risk
Forensic science technicians
$67,440
$53K $89K
2,900 openings/yr +12.8% growth 39% AI risk
Anthropologists and archeologists
$64,910
$51K $83K
800 openings/yr +3.7% growth 44% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Anthropology

Top 20 of 178 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY
54
48–55
$38,879/yr 17.9x
2 University of Houston
Houston, TX
48
42–48
$34,669/yr 13.2x
3 University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
48
43–49
$33,837/yr 12.5x
4 University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL
48
44–49
$29,036/yr 33.8x
5 University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
46
41–47
$32,778/yr 11.2x
6 University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
46
42–47
$29,036/yr 20.1x
7 University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA
45
39–45
$36,565/yr 8.3x
8 University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
45
39–45
$33,787/yr 12.9x
9 SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
45
40–46
$32,493/yr 14.0x
10 California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
45
41–45
$26,502/yr 19.4x
11 Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
44
37–44
$56,550/yr 1.6x
12 California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
44
39–45
$32,460/yr 15.0x
13 Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH
43
36–44
$41,986/yr 5.4x
14 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Bend, OR
43
37–43
$32,573/yr 10.1x
15 Binghamton University
Vestal, NY
43
38–43
$30,978/yr 12.0x
16 Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ
42
36–42
$36,978/yr 6.8x
17 Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ
42
36–43
$36,978/yr 7.1x
18 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
42
36–43
$36,211/yr 11.2x
19 Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
42
36–42
$32,573/yr 9.3x
20 Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ
42
37–42
$31,640/yr 10.3x

Highest Earning Anthropology Programs

Schools where Anthropology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Southern Methodist University $56,550/yr 44
Monmouth University $46,302/yr 41
Duke University $43,924/yr 37
Southern New Hampshire University $41,986/yr 43
Fordham University $40,384/yr 33
Dartmouth College $40,071/yr 36
CUNY Lehman College $38,879/yr 54
George Mason University $37,081/yr 39
Rutgers University-New Brunswick $36,978/yr 42
Rutgers University-Newark $36,978/yr 42

Best ROI for Anthropology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Anthropology.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
University of Florida-Online 33.8x $29,036/yr 48
University of Florida 20.1x $29,036/yr 46
Western Carolina University 19.8x $28,262/yr 39
California State University-Channel Islands 19.4x $26,502/yr 45
CUNY Lehman College 17.9x $38,879/yr 54
CUNY Queens College 17.7x $22,917/yr 42
California State University-Fullerton 17.3x $26,794/yr 42
Florida Atlantic University 17.2x $26,418/yr 36
University of South Florida 15.9x $24,331/yr 36
San Francisco State University 15.9x $28,314/yr 42
Want to compare two Anthropology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Anthropology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Anthropology graduates earn?
Across 178 schools, Anthropology graduates earn an average of $28,155 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $12,059 to $56,550 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Anthropology?
Anthropology is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 52% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Anthropology program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), CUNY Lehman College ranks #1 for Anthropology with a score of 54/100 and graduate earnings of $38,879/yr.
What's the outlook for a Anthropology degree?
On average, Anthropology graduates earn 8.2x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →