Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $23,379/yr fall 17% below the $28,155 national median for Anthropology. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Anthropology's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -0% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,752 against $23,379/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #147 of 178 Anthropology programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.