Anthropology at Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,862/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI
10.6x earnings multiple (4.0x 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 | $475K | $476K | $449K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.6x | 10.6x | 10.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.9x | 4.0x | 3.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 44% | 41% | 30% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 39 | 38 | 32 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (4.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,937
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,474
25% growth from Year 1
About Portland State University
Portland State University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,619 in Portland, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland State University?
A score of 38/100 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 $449,174 in decade earnings vs $474,855 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Portland State University's Anthropology program stand out?
Ranked #43 of 178 programs nationally, Portland State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →