Anthropology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Anthropology graduates earn a median $46,676 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Anthropology ranks #184 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 9% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $83,493 |
| 2 | Duke University | NC | $81,120 |
| 3 | Emory University | GA | $78,768 |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis | MO | $71,018 |
| 5 | Dartmouth College | NH | $70,846 |
| 6 | Fordham University | NY | $66,562 |
| 7 | George Washington University | DC | $65,172 |
| 8 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $64,359 |
| 9 | Sonoma State University | CA | $62,674 |
| 10 | San Francisco State University | CA | $61,300 |
| 11 | James Madison University | VA | $60,841 |
| 12 | CUNY Lehman College | NY | $60,488 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.