Anthropology at Brandeis University

Brandeis's anthropology program punches above its weight nationally but tells a more nuanced story within Massachusetts. That $35,390 starting salary ranks in the 95th percentile among all anthropology programs nationwide—far exceeding the $27,806 national median—yet lands at the 60th percentile within Massachusetts, where only UMass-Boston posts higher first-year earnings among major programs.

The real strength here is trajectory rather than starting point. Earnings jump 55% to nearly $55,000 by year four, suggesting graduates find their footing after an initial period of entry-level positions or graduate school preparation. The $26,000 debt burden sits slightly above both state and national medians but translates to a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio—you're borrowing less than one year's starting salary. For a selective liberal arts program at a school admitting only 35% of applicants, that's reasonable leverage.

The caveat is competition: if your student is Massachusetts-focused and debt-conscious, UMass-Boston delivers comparable first-year outcomes at likely lower cost. But Brandeis offers something different—the resources and network of a top-tier research university with notably better earnings growth than most anthropology programs. For families who can manage the investment and whose student values the academic environment, the four-year earnings picture justifies the slightly higher debt.