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Social Sciences · Anthropology Rank #19 of 178

Anthropologyat Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Graduates earn $36,978/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Anthropology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $530K; scenarios range from $488K to $533K depending on AI disruption.

New Brunswick, NJ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,978
1-year post-graduation
ROI
6.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$530K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Rutgers

Rutgers-New Brunswick’s anthropology program consistently positions its graduates for impressive financial outcomes, a testament to how students leverage their analytical skills in a dynamic regional economy. This success stems from Rutgers’ robust research environment and its prime location within the competitive Tri-State area, offering unparalleled access to diverse industries like pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, and finance. Many graduates effectively translate their ethnographic research and critical thinking abilities into roles such as market research, user experience (UX) design, or public health analysis, often pursuing further education or specialized certifications. The strong showing in fields like "Medical scientists" suggests a powerful pipeline for students combining their anthropological insights with scientific or public health interests. To maximize your potential, proactively seek internships that apply your skills in these growing sectors and explore interdisciplinary minors, especially in data science, public health, or business analytics.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$488K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple7.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$530K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple7.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$533K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple7.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Rutgers's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Anthropology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$95,770/yr
High
4
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$84,290/yr
High
5
Forensic science technicians
+12.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$67,440/yr
Moderate
6
Anthropologists and archeologists
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$64,910/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Anthropology

How Rutgers stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Same state (NJ)
Monmouth University
NJ · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
1.4x
ROI
Southern New Hampshire University
NH · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
5.4x
ROI
Fordham University
NY · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
Also at Rutgers

Other top programs at Rutgers

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rutgers, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

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.

Compare Anthropology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Anthropology at Rutgers

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Anthropology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?

A score of 42/100 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 $488,278 in decade earnings vs $533,009 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Anthropology program stand out?

Ranked #19 of 178 programs nationally, Rutgers University-New Brunswick lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.