2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Texas
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for anthropology students.
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2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Anthropology Schools
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools in Texas. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,427 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $21,213. That is a strong return on a $11,427 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,329 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $26,735 early in their careers. Set against $21,329 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $14,519. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #4 place for anthropology. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $22,750. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $34,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $17,229. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas earned the #7 position for value in anthropology this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $21,168 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $28,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #8 for value in anthropology this year. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,444 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $51,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #9 spot for anthropology value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $39,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot for anthropology value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Anthropology graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $30,385 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #11 among the best values for anthropology. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $22,523. Anthropology graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $31,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #12 position for value in anthropology this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $21,264 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $28,202. Set against $21,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Baylor University placed #13 among the best values for anthropology. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $28,369. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
More Anthropology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
