# Anthropology

> A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/anthropology
- CIP code: 45.02 (Social Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 455 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 32 | $49,147 | not reported | $19,458 |
| Associate's | 137 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 455 | $34,061 | $45,833 | $19,827 |
| Master's | 165 | $50,520 | $57,283 | $36,064 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 100 | $76,218 | $72,767 | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 24 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York, NY | $83,493 | $25,000 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $81,120 | not reported |
| [Emory University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Atlanta, GA | $78,768 | $11,958 |
| [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Saint Louis, MO | $71,018 | $15,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $70,846 | not reported |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Bronx, NY | $66,562 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $65,172 | $14,697 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $64,359 | $11,310 |
| [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/sonoma-state-university-2438) | Rohnert Park, CA | $62,674 | not reported |
| [San Francisco State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/san-francisco-state-university-2349) | San Francisco, CA | $61,300 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-scientists-except-epidemiologists): $103,410 median pay
- [Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropology-and-archeology-teachers-postsecondary): $99,650 median pay
- [Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/area-ethnic-and-cultural-studies-teachers-postsecondary): $85,020 median pay
- [Forensic Science Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forensic-science-technicians): $72,060 median pay
- [Anthropologists and Archeologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropologists-and-archeologists): $70,770 median pay

## More in Social Sciences

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/political-science-and-government): 1,087 colleges
- [Sociology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sociology): 944 colleges
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/economics): 767 colleges
- [International Relations and National Security Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-relations-and-national-security-studies): 366 colleges
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-general): 317 colleges
- [Geography and Cartography](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geography-and-cartography): 293 colleges
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/criminology): 220 colleges
- [Social Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-other): 108 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/