2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in the New England Region

[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for anthropology students.
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2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Anthropology Schools
Leading the list is Bowdoin College, our #1 best value for anthropology in the New England Region. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete the anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #2 spot this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Anthropology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $36,565 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Vermont is a great value for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $19,500. Anthropology graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $31,717 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Maine came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $23,341. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Yale University landed the #6 spot for anthropology value this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $14,357. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $24,120. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #8 for value in anthropology this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $23,432. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $52,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut earned the #9 position for value in anthropology this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $33,758 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #10 spot for anthropology value this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $30,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Anthropology graduates of Boston University earn a median of $26,934 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Wellesley College placed #12 among the best values for anthropology. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,176. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $11,075. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $31,973. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Dartmouth College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $14,363 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $40,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College came in at #14 for value in anthropology this year. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $21,178 in student loans. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $19,655. That is a strong return on a $21,178 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Smith College landed the #15 spot for anthropology value this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Anthropology graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Brandeis University came in at #16 for value in anthropology this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $35,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Southern New Hampshire University placed #17 among the best values for anthropology. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $34,312. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University generally make around $41,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern New Hampshire University admits about 100% of applicants.
Tufts University placed #18 among the best values for anthropology. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $17,074. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $68,154. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.