Anthropology at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,913/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI
8.6x earnings multiple (4.9x 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 | $555K | $550K | $503K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.7x | 8.6x | 7.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.9x | 4.9x | 4.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 44% | 41% | 30% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 33 | 32 | 29 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (4.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
11.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,516
99% growth from Year 1
About Illinois State University
Illinois State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 18,414 in Normal, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →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 Illinois State University
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Anthropology at Illinois State University?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Anthropology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Anthropology careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $502,920 in decade earnings vs $554,785 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →