2026 Best Anthropology Schools in Washington
Anthropology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best anthropology schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Anthropology in Washington
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Anthropology
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in anthropology. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $32,778. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the anthropology program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Whitman College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. About 80% of students finish within six years. Whitman College awarded about 16 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from Whitman College earn around $32,345 in the first couple years of their career. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans.
Read more about the anthropology program at Whitman College
Western Washington University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $27,851. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
More information about a degree in anthropology from Western Washington University
Washington State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $25,519 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the anthropology program at Washington State University
Central Washington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 25 anthropology degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Anthropology graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $20,318 early in their careers. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Read more about the anthropology program at Central Washington University
More Anthropology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.