by our College Data Analytics Team
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their anthropology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 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.
Leading the list is Grinnell College, our #1 for anthropology graduate salaries in Iowa. 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.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the highest-paying schools for anthropology. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Anthropology graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of about $42,460 a year early in their careers.
Iowa State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Early-career anthropology graduates from Iowa State University make a median of around $44,015 per year.
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 · 3 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.