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Best Schools for Anthropology

Anthropology graduates earn a median of $26,086 within two years of graduation, ranking #264 out of 292 tracked majors — 27% below the median across all fields. There are 225 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 5,880 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Monmouth University graduates earn $50,606 while University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates earn $15,817 — a $34,789 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Anthropology graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

225
Schools
$26,086
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#264
of 292 Majors
5,880
Graduates

Public vs Private: Anthropology

Public (177 schools)
$25,221
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (45 schools)
$29,339
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $4,118 more in early earnings on average for Anthropology graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Anthropology by State

New York
24 schools
$27,539
California
23 schools
$26,677
North Carolina
10 schools
$27,622
Ohio
10 schools
$25,641
Florida
10 schools
$24,508
Massachusetts
9 schools
$28,067
Texas
9 schools
$24,497
Pennsylvania
8 schools
$25,874

Top Anthropology Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
M

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, NJ · Private

$50,606
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,481
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 89.5%
#2
C

Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private

$44,971
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 6.8%
#3
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,176
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 43.5%
#4
D

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

$40,467
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 6.8%
#5
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,281
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 44.8%
#6
C

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,302
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 4.2%
#7
C

CUNY Lehman College

Bronx, NY · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,486
Grads: 39
Acceptance: 55.4%
#8
U

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,140
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 83.0%
#9
R

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN · Private

$37,208
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 49.7%
#10
W

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

$36,668
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 21.6%
#11
T

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$36,308
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,166
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 82.9%
#12
D

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,153
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 6.2%
#13
B

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 5.2%
#14
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$34,603
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,527
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 69.5%
#15
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$34,526
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.2%
#16
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$34,420
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,459
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 77.8%
#17
S

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,610
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 41.7%
#18
W

Washington College

Chestertown, MD · Private

$33,938
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,614
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 65.5%
#19
C

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,662
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 54.0%
#20
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,762
Grads: 31
Acceptance: N/A
#21
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$33,281
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.3%
#22
B

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 35.3%
#23
M

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MA · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 38.3%
#24
C

CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public

$32,569
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,187
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 58.1%
#25
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$32,498
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,388
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 93.6%
#26
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$32,391
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,331
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 77.0%
#27
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$32,391
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,550
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 78.8%
#28
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$32,391
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,550
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 68.4%
#29
U

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

$32,382
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 97.4%
#30
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$31,762
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,390
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 96.2%
#31
H

Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$31,762
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,770
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 89.8%
#32
U

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$31,670
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 4.8%
#33
D

Drew University

Madison, NJ · Private

$31,670
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.4%
#34
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$31,278
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,755
Grads: 108
Acceptance: 42.5%
#35
I

Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,730
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 81.4%
#36
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,417
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 39.9%
#37
W

Weber State University

Ogden, UT ·

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,470
Grads: 16
Acceptance: N/A
#38
S

SUNY Brockport

Brockport, NY · Public

$31,127
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.3%
#39
T

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 14.6%
#40
B

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.0%
#41
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$30,520
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,197
Grads: 215
Acceptance: 8.7%
#42
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$30,277
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,992
Grads: 69
Acceptance: 41.6%
#43
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$30,186
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,234
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 90.2%
#44
A

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

$30,186
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,234
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 64.1%
#45
U

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#46
N

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 7.1%
#47
W

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.3%
#48
S

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 22.9%
#49
S

SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.9%
#50
C

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 95.5%

Showing top 50 of 225 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Music $26,923 Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs $26,503 Outdoor Education $26,353 Visual and Performing Arts, General $26,289 Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries $26,220 Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology $25,939

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Anthropology?
Monmouth University ranks #1 for Anthropology with median graduate earnings of $50,606 within two years. There are 225 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates earn an average of $26,086 within two years of graduation. This is 27% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $15,817 to $50,606 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Anthropology program?
The average acceptance rate across Anthropology programs is 66.7%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Anthropology?
Private Anthropology programs average $29,339 in early earnings vs $25,221 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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