Anthropology at College of Charleston

College of Charleston's anthropology program lands squarely in the middle nationally but performs better than most South Carolina alternatives, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. That first-year salary of $26,842 barely trails the national median and beats the typical South Carolina anthropology grad by about $1,500. The $23,000 debt load is exactly average, making this neither a bargain nor particularly expensive.

The real question is whether those earnings justify the investment at all. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 means your child would owe nearly a full year's salary—manageable but tight. The 31% earnings growth over four years is encouraging and brings graduates closer to a livable income, but they're still starting well below what most bachelor's degrees deliver nationally. For context, South Carolina's flagship program at USC actually shows lower first-year earnings despite its research resources.

The catch: this analysis relies on fewer than 30 graduates, so one person's career trajectory could skew the entire picture. If your child is genuinely passionate about anthropology and has realistic plans (graduate school, specific career paths, or double-majoring with a more lucrative field), this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if they're undecided or hoping a liberal arts degree alone will lead to financial security, the numbers suggest having a serious conversation about Plan B before enrollment.