Anthropology at Baylor University

Baylor's Anthropology program sits squarely in the middle of Texas offerings, with first-year earnings matching the state median exactly at $28,369. That 60th percentile ranking among Texas programs tells parents this is a respectable but not standout option—falling well behind private competitor SMU ($56,550) but comparable to major state universities. The program does beat the national median slightly, though with a small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked), these figures should be interpreted cautiously.

The financial picture is more encouraging than the earnings alone suggest. At $26,500 in median debt, students borrow less than at most Texas anthropology programs (state median: $22,636) and well below the national figure. That 0.93 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than one year's salary, which is manageable territory. The 19% earnings growth to $33,672 by year four shows steady, if modest, income progression.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Baylor's environment justifies the cost over larger public universities offering similar outcomes. The low Pell grant percentage (13%) suggests this attracts predominantly affluent students who may have family support beyond what these debt figures indicate. If your child is passionate about anthropology and values Baylor's culture, the numbers won't derail their plans—but this isn't a program where the degree alone will quickly pay for itself.