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 highest-paying schools turn a anthropology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the early-career earnings of their anthropology graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send anthropology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in anthropology, no school beat Columbia University In The City Of New York this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $68,212 annually.
A rank of #2 makes New York University one of the highest-paying schools for anthropology. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $61,922 annually.
Drew University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a private not-for-profit institution. Anthropology graduates of Drew University earn a median of about $51,563 a year early in their careers.
Monmouth University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #4 spot this year. Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Long Branch. Anthropology graduates of Monmouth University earn a median of about $58,796 a year early in their careers.
Fordham University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $54,406 annually.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #6 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,905.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #7 position for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $62,067 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #8 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick typically earn about $53,715 annually.
Rutgers University Newark landed the #9 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Located in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Rutgers University Newark make a median of around $53,715 per year.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $43,356 per year.
Bryn Mawr College landed the #11 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a private not-for-profit institution. Anthropology graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of about $43,253 a year early in their careers.
George Washington University landed the #12 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Anthropology graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $70,959 a year early in their careers.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #13 position for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Suny College At Oneonta make a median of around $52,724 per year.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #14 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,092.
Temple University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for anthropology. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of Temple University earn a median of about $48,314 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Queens College earned the #16 position for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Cuny Queens College make a median of around $56,381 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a public school located in the suburb of Greensburg. Anthropology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg earn a median of about $50,315 a year early in their careers.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #18 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus make a median of around $50,315 per year.
Suny At Albany landed the #19 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of about $43,029 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Hunter College landed the #20 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Cuny Hunter College make a median of around $44,882 per year.
Stony Brook University landed the #21 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,848.
Montclair State University earned the #22 position for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of about $31,018 a year early in their careers.
University At Buffalo placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for anthropology. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of about $29,460 a year early in their careers.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania landed the #24 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Early-career anthropology graduates from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $33,623 per year.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #25 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Suny At Geneseo is a public school located in the town of Geneseo. Anthropology graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of about $26,218 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send anthropology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 29 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.