Anthropology at Illinois State University

The small graduating class here—fewer than 30 students—makes it hard to draw firm conclusions, but the available data shows something unexpected: Illinois State's anthropology grads start slow but catch up fast. That first-year figure of $25,913 ranks near the bottom third nationally, yet by year four, earnings jump to $43,391—a 67% increase that outpaces typical growth for this major.

Within Illinois, this program sits at the state median for starting earnings but holds its own against larger programs. While Northwestern grads earn more initially ($33,208), Illinois State's debt burden is roughly equal to the state median at $25,333, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0. That's manageable compared to programs at schools like DePaul, where anthropology grads start at just $18,950.

The real question is whether that year-four earning power materializes consistently or if you're seeing an outlier cohort. With such a small sample, one or two graduates landing strong positions could skew the entire picture. For parents, this means the numbers look reasonable on paper—the debt isn't crushing and the growth trajectory is encouraging—but you're betting on a pattern that may not hold steady year to year. If your student is genuinely committed to anthropology and Illinois State offers strong faculty connections or research opportunities, the accessible admissions and manageable debt make this a viable option. Just recognize you're working with limited data.