by our College Data Analytics Team
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their anthropology graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying anthropology schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose anthropology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Washington Seattle Campus, our #1 for anthropology graduate salaries in Washington. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,569.
Students chasing top earnings in anthropology will find them at Pacific Lutheran University, which ranked #2. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Pacific Lutheran University typically earn about $43,199 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Western Washington University one of the highest-paying schools for anthropology. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $46,798 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington State University earned it the #4 place for anthropology. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,262.
Central Washington University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $36,723 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries anthropology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.