Anthropology at CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$22,917/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI
20.1x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Anthropology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $617K | $607K | $544K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 20.5x | 20.1x | 18.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 10.0x | 9.8x | 8.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 44% | 41% | 30% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 42 | 40 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,152
Out-of-state: $61,952 (9.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,421
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,381
146% growth from Year 1
About CUNY Queens College
A 69% admission rate makes CUNY Queens College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 13,060 students in Queens, NY. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $15,320 over four years — 49% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Queens College →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590/yr
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
$95,770/yr
Compare & Explore
Anthropology at Other Schools
Other Majors at CUNY Queens College
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does CUNY Queens College's Anthropology program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Anthropology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Anthropology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Anthropology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does CUNY Queens College rank so high for Anthropology?
The #21 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Why are Anthropology earnings lower at CUNY Queens College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY Queens College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →