Grad school · Social sciences

Anthropology graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

155 colleges award master's degrees in anthropology. Graduates of the typical program earned $50,520 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $36,064 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs155

Graduates in 2023-24991

Typical median debt$36,064

Typical earnings 1 yr after$50,520

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$57,283

Earnings to debt1.4x

Official field: Anthropology. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.

Degree level	Programs	Typical earnings 1 yr after	Typical median debt
Master's	155	$50,520	$36,064
Doctoral	98	$76,218	n/a

Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay

Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.

Master's programs in anthropology

Highest first-year earnings

Texas State University$52,562

Georgia State University$44,653

Binghamton University$41,881

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	31	$41,881	$60,382	$30,798
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ	13	n/a	$57,283	n/a
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA	15	$44,653	$46,511	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	0	$63,696	n/a	n/a
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX	21	$52,562	n/a	$36,064
California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	6	$51,666	n/a	n/a
American UniversityWashington, DC	7	$49,375	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boise State UniversityBoise, ID	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	16	n/a	n/a	$129,966
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	22	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-ChicoChico, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	31	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern UniversitySaint Davids, PA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	21	n/a	n/a	n/a
Idaho State UniversityPocatello, ID	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato, MN	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Monmouth UniversityWest Long Branch, NJ	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Portland State UniversityPortland, OR	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of MontanaMissoula, MT	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AK	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DenverDenver, CO	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HoustonHouston, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IdahoMoscow, ID	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MaineOrono, ME	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MemphisMemphis, TN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MississippiUniversity, MS	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of TulsaTulsa, OK	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of West FloridaPensacola, FL	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of WyomingLaramie, WY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Utah State UniversityLogan, UT	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	5	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in anthropology

Highest first-year earnings

CUNY Graduate School and University Center$76,218

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	14	n/a	$74,535	n/a
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	7	n/a	$72,767	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	14	n/a	$72,423	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	18	$76,218	n/a	n/a
American UniversityWashington, DC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of MontanaMissoula, MT	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MaineOrono, ME	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of TulsaTulsa, OK	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of WyomingLaramie, WY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	6	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do anthropology graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $50,520 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do anthropology graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $36,064 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Anthropology major

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.