by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 61 U.S. colleges awarded 434 degrees and certificates in Archeology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 60% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Archeology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,059 one year after completing, rising to $41,082 after four years.
If you wish to explore the vast and mysterious societies and structures of the past, Archeology could be the major for you! This multidisciplinary field involves the study of past people and culture. Students research artifacts and read primary source documents in order to broaden their knowledge of past civilizations.
Classes taught in this major are history, anthropology, foreign language, and art history. You will also take courses in subjects like archaeological field techniques, problems in archaeology, and the rise of civilization.
Studying Archeology covers Archeology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., archeology draws strong interest, with 434 degrees awarded annually. 61 colleges award archeology degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 25.
By level, the 434 awards include 28 certificates, 12 associate degrees, 260 bachelor’s degrees, 122 master’s degrees and 12 doctorates.
Women earned 64% of archeology degrees and certificates in the latest year (280 of 434). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (311) and Hispanic or Latino (50), and international students earned 14.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Archeology Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks archeology schools within 2 states. In all, 61 colleges offer archeology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Archeology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common archeology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 260 of the 434 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to archeology call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Students who excel in this field tend to be problem solvers who enjoy finding the missing piece of a puzzle. The ideal learner is someone who is adventurous and curious, being willing try new things. Work in the field may involve travel to different countries. Although the work can be very exciting, parts of it will be tedious and involve bearing extreme temperatures at a dig site, carefully brushing dust off shards of pottery, and analyzing pieces of material under a microscope.
Students will require creative thinking, analytical skills and attention to detail when researching subjects and presenting information. Much of your time in college will be spent studying, researching and writing papers on your findings. You may have the chance to study abroad. This will provide excellent experience in learning the culture and history of another country first-hand.
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How long an archeology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 28 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 260 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 122 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to archeology, at 47.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Archeology, with an average median salary of $100,024; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Compliance Director, Publication Director, Extension Work Director and Director of Consumer Affairs.
In order to become an archeologist you will need to obtain your Ph.D. This is competitive field that involves a lot of time spent in research and in the field. Archeologists teach college classes or provide consulting services to governments and businesses. They are often found working for cultural resource management firms. Graduates who do not wish to pursue an advanced degree may find work as teachers, librarians, curators, or in other fields that require analytical and research skills.
The occupation related to archeology with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Tour Guides and Escorts | 197,286 | -2.8% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Archeology graduates earn a median $28,059 one year after completing their program, $41,082 after four years and $44,033 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,059 |
| 4 years | $41,082 |
| 5 years | $44,033 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to archeology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
Archeology includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Archeology (434). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 187,762 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Sociology (30,816). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archeology | 434 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
