by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 62 degrees and certificates in Physical & Biological Anthropology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Physical & Biological 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 Physical & Biological Anthropology covers Physical And Biological Anthropology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of The Biological Sciences And Anthropology To The Study Of The Adaptations, Variability, And The Evolution Of Human Beings And Their Living And Fossil Relatives. Includes Instructions In Anthropology, Human And Mammalian Anatomy, Cell Biology, Paleontology, Human Culture And Behavior, Neuroscience, Forensic Anthropology, Anatomical Reconstruction, Comparative Anatomy, And Laboratory Science And Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., physical & biological anthropology draws strong interest, with 62 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award physical & biological anthropology degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13.
By level, the 62 awards include 27 bachelor’s degrees, 25 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.
Women earned 81% of physical & biological anthropology degrees and certificates in the latest year (50 of 62). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (46) and Hispanic or Latino (6), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Physical & Biological Anthropology Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks physical & biological anthropology schools within 1 state. In all, 10 colleges offer physical & biological anthropology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physical & Biological Anthropology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physical & biological anthropology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 27 of the 62 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physical & biological anthropology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
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How long a physical & biological anthropology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 27 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical & biological anthropology, at 50.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.8% |
| Master’s degree | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Physical & Biological Anthropology, with an average median salary of $107,993; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Compliance Director, Winter Sports Manager, Water Registrar and Superintendent of Generation.
The occupation related to physical & biological anthropology with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
Physical & Biological 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 physical & biological 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 |
Physical & Biological Anthropology has 5 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 10,774 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 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 57 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
