by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 57 degrees and certificates in Cultural Anthropology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Cultural Anthropology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,986 one year after completing, rising to $48,548 after four years.
A degree in Cultural Anthropology covers Cultural Anthropology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Culture And The Relationship Of Culture To Other Aspects Of Social Life. Includes Instruction In Cultural Anthropology, Anthropological Theory, Enthnography, Linguistics, And Quantitative And Qualitative Research Methods. Examples: [Cultural Anthropology], [Cultural And Social Anthropology], [Socio-Cultural Anthropology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., cultural anthropology draws strong interest, with 57 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award cultural anthropology degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 57 awards include 23 bachelor’s degrees, 32 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of cultural anthropology degrees and certificates in the latest year (45 of 57). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (29) and multiracial (7), and international students earned 7.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Cultural Anthropology Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. In all, 12 colleges offer cultural anthropology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cultural Anthropology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cultural anthropology credential is the master’s degree: 32 of the 57 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cultural anthropology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cultural anthropology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 32 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cultural anthropology, at 33.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.7% |
| Master’s degree | 17.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Cultural Anthropology, with an average median salary of $101,946; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor.
The occupation related to cultural anthropology with the most projected jobs is Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Cultural Anthropology graduates earn a median $28,986 one year after completing their program, $48,548 after four years and $48,126 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,986 |
| 4 years | $48,548 |
| 5 years | $48,126 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cultural anthropology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
Cultural Anthropology has 5 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 10,779 degrees a year; the largest are Anthropology, General (10,125), Medical Anthropology (368) and Anthropology, Other (143). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Anthropology, General | 10,125 |
| Medical Anthropology | 368 |
| Anthropology, Other | 143 |
| Forensic Anthropology | 81 |
| Physical and Biological Anthropology | 62 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
