Anthropology at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,108/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #88 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 $481K $482K $454K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.5x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.2x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 44% 41% 30%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 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)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
9.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,181
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Texas State University's Anthropology graduates start at $30,108/yr — above the $28,155 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 10.5x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$30,108 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #88 out of 178 programs, Texas State University's Anthropology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $30,108 to $43,181 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Texas State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 34,547 in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas 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
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Anthropology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Texas State University

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 Texas State University's Anthropology program score?
This program scores 34/100 — 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 →