Anthropologyat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $32,300/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Anthropology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $550K; scenarios range from $503K to $555K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your degree from UCLA carries significant weight, even in a field like Anthropology that often leads to less direct career paths. The university's strong brand and vast alumni network in a major metropolitan area like Los Angeles provide a distinct advantage, opening doors beyond traditional academic roles into diverse industries like tech (UX research), healthcare, or non-profit management. Your coursework emphasizes critical thinking, research methods, and cross-cultural understanding, skills highly valued by employers in complex problem-solving roles.
The listed career paths reflect this versatility, with many graduates applying their analytical abilities to management or even medical research, often after further study. The high AI risk indicates that roles relying on data analysis, research synthesis, or content creation may evolve significantly. Therefore, while your foundational skills are robust, actively integrating digital tools and practical, applied experiences like internships into your program will be crucial for navigating an evolving job market.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Anthropology
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, 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 →Frequently asked about Anthropology at UCLA
What does a 41/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Anthropology at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 41/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Anthropology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Anthropology at University of California-Los Angeles?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of California-Los Angeles one of the best schools for Anthropology?
Among 178 Anthropology programs, University of California-Los Angeles's #25 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.