Anthropology at Iowa State University

Iowa State's anthropology program starts its graduates with notably lower earnings than most alternatives—ranking just 29th percentile nationally and 40th within Iowa. The $25,014 first-year median falls about $2,000 below even Iowa's modest state average for anthropology. The strongest program in Iowa (University of Iowa) produces graduates earning 9% more right out of the gate, a meaningful gap when you're starting at such a low baseline.

The one bright spot is debt management: at $27,607, graduates here carry slightly more than the national median but stay close to Iowa's typical level. With strong earnings growth (56% over four years), the financial picture improves significantly by year four, when the debt-to-earnings ratio becomes more manageable. However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these figures could shift substantially year to year, making this data less reliable than programs with larger cohorts.

For families considering this path, understand that anthropology degrees typically lead to modest starting salaries regardless of institution, and this program underperforms even that low bar. If your child is committed to anthropology, the University of Iowa offers better initial outcomes in-state. The low first-year earnings combined with data uncertainty makes this a risky choice unless your student has minimal debt financing needs or a clear graduate school plan that justifies the bachelor's degree as a stepping stone.