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Anthropology at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,837/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)

ROI 12.9x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 1%

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	$600K	$592K	$534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.0x	12.9x	11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.7x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,020

Out-of-state: $161,224 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,360

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,070

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,067

83% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,837 at University of Maryland-College Park come in 20% above the national median of $28,155 for Anthropology programs.

The 12.9x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,070 debt-to-$33,837 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #2 ranking out of 178 programs puts University of Maryland-College Park in the top 1% for Anthropology. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth from $33,837 to $62,067 over five years (83% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Maryland-College Park

A 45% admission rate makes University of Maryland-College Park accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 30,246 students enrolled in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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

Compare Anthropology

Other Majors at University of Maryland-College Park

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 University of Maryland-College Park's Anthropology program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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.

Why does University of Maryland-College Park rank so high for Anthropology?

The #2 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →