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Anthropology at Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,283/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #66 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 50%

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	$508K	$507K	$472K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.1x	14.1x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.1x	6.6x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	36	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,096

Out-of-state: $71,712 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,008

-94% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,875

9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,116

69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $27,283/yr, Anthropology graduates from Missouri State University-Springfield land near the $28,155 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,875 debt-to-$27,283 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #66 out of 178 programs, Missouri State University-Springfield's Anthropology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,283 to $46,116 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Missouri State University-Springfield

With 91% of applicants admitted, Missouri State University-Springfield prioritizes broad access, serving 13,407 students in Springfield, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at Missouri State University-Springfield →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary $95,770/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Anthropology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Missouri State University-Springfield

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Missouri State University-Springfield's Anthropology program score?

This program scores 36/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →