Anthropology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 269 schools to find the best for anthropology students.
The anthropology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Anthropology rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Anthropology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best anthropology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 25 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $33,208 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full anthropology program report for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong anthropology program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 41 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $40,071. Students borrow a median of $14,363 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 88 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $36,211 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,982.
Read more about the anthropology program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 28 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full anthropology program report for University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong anthropology program will find one at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #5. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 94 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $34,489 early in their careers. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University placed #6 among the best anthropology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 19 anthropology degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Get the full anthropology details for Vanderbilt University
Harvard University came in at #7 for anthropology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 56 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the anthropology program at Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot for anthropology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 28 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $99,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in anthropology from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best anthropology schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 108 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $31,420 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Get the full anthropology details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Princeton University placed #10 among the best anthropology schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
See the full anthropology program report for Princeton University
Georgetown University came in at #11 for anthropology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 12 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
Read more about the anthropology program at Georgetown University
University Of California Berkeley came in at #12 for anthropology this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 108 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $28,661 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $12,949 in student loans.
See the full anthropology program report for University Of California Berkeley
Yale University came in at #13 for anthropology this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 32 anthropology degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Tufts University came in at #14 for anthropology this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 10 anthropology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
More information about a degree in anthropology from Tufts University
University Of California Irvine came in at #15 for anthropology this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $30,509 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,667 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis came in at #16 for anthropology this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 86 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $28,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the anthropology program at University Of California Davis
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #17 position for anthropology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 170 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $32,300. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full anthropology program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Stanford University earned the #18 position for anthropology this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #19 for anthropology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 34 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $33,837 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,070.
Read more about the anthropology program at University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #20 position for anthropology this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 56 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $32,778. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best anthropology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 27 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Anthropology graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $69,494 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,891.
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San Jose State University came in at #22 for anthropology this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of Connecticut ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best anthropology schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 35 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $33,758 in their early career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in anthropology from University Of Connecticut
New York University landed the #24 spot for anthropology this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 39 anthropology degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $64,516 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full anthropology program report for New York University
Barnard College earned the #25 position for anthropology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $50,790 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete this degree.
See the full anthropology program report for Barnard College
Rest of the Top 50 Anthropology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for anthropology this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 269 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
