Anthropology at Metropolitan State University of Denver

The strongest signal here isn't the rough first-year earnings—it's the 72% jump to nearly $38,000 by year four, suggesting graduates take time to land stable positions. However, the early struggles are real: $21,930 puts this program in just the 15th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Colorado's anthropology programs, while carrying $31,135 in debt that exceeds first-year earnings by 42%. Among Colorado schools, University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn nearly $15,000 more annually.

The debt load deserves particular attention. At roughly $31,000, it's 35% higher than what's typical for anthropology majors nationally and exceeds the Colorado state median by over $5,500. Combined with those difficult first-year earnings, graduates face significant financial pressure right when they're least prepared to handle it. The program serves a largely accessible student body (99% admission rate, 35% on Pell grants), but the financial outcomes suggest many students may struggle to service their loans early on.

One major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. Still, the pattern is concerning enough that families should have frank conversations about post-graduation plans. Without a clear path to employment that leverages the degree—or plans for graduate school—the combination of high debt and slow earnings trajectory makes this a risky investment, even accounting for the eventual improvement in year four.