by our College Data Analytics Team
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a anthropology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their anthropology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose anthropology graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in anthropology, no school beat University Of Virginia Main Campus this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $55,460 a year early in their careers.
George Mason University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #2 spot this year. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,617.
James Madison University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,211.
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the highest-paying schools for anthropology. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public school located in the city of Richmond. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University typically earn about $41,449 annually.
University Of Mary Washington produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of about $24,534 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their anthropology graduates, 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.