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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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.
Grinnell College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Grinnell College make a median of around $43,162 per year.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,787.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $49,123 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Hamline University earned it the #4 place for anthropology. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. Anthropology graduates of Hamline University earn a median of about $45,884 a year early in their careers.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $46,116 annually.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #6 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis typically earn about $34,489 annually.
Wichita State University landed the #7 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. After graduating, anthropology degree recipients from Wichita State University typically earn about $34,275 annually.
University Of Iowa came in at #8 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $42,460 per year.
Iowa State University landed the #9 spot for anthropology salaries this year. Iowa State University is a public school located in the city of Ames. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,015.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #10 position for anthropology graduate earnings this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Anthropology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of about $31,926 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying anthropology schools. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Anthropology graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of about $29,376 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #12 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from University Of Missouri St Louis make a median of around $38,860 per year.
Kansas State University came in at #13 for anthropology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Students who complete the anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,567.
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 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.