Anthropology at Boston University

Boston University's anthropology bachelor's lands below the middle of the pack both nationally and within Massachusetts, despite the institution's selective admissions and strong academic reputation. At $26,934 one year after graduation, it trails the state median by nearly $2,500 and sits well behind programs at UMass-Boston ($36,565) and Brandeis ($35,390). The debt load of $25,250 roughly matches what anthropology graduates carry elsewhere, yielding a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio in that crucial first year.

The bright spot here is trajectory: earnings jump 75% by year four to $47,165, suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in the job market. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year—a few graduates in consulting or tech could artificially inflate averages, while a cohort pursuing graduate school could drag them down.

For families paying Boston University's premium tuition, this program requires clear-eyed planning. If your student is passionate about anthropology and has concrete plans for graduate school or specific career paths where the BU network matters, the investment may make sense. But if they're exploring anthropology as a general liberal arts degree, lower-cost options within Massachusetts deliver comparable or better early-career outcomes without the sticker shock.