Anthropology at Ohio University-Eastern Campus

Ohio University-Eastern's anthropology program sits squarely at the national median for starting earnings at $27,806, but performs slightly above the state median, ranking in the 60th percentile among Ohio anthropology programs. The $27,000 debt load is manageable—actually lower than most anthropology programs nationally—resulting in a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means your graduate will owe roughly what they'll earn in their first year, which is tight but not unusual for humanities degrees. The 21% earnings growth to $33,634 by year four suggests upward trajectory, though this field typically requires graduate school for professional advancement.

The challenge here is less about the program's specific performance and more about anthropology as a career path. Starting at under $28,000 with a bachelor's degree will likely require either additional schooling, career pivoting, or supplementing income in other ways. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) also means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, so don't treat them as gospel.

If your child is passionate about anthropology, this program offers a lower-debt entry point than most alternatives, and its state ranking suggests it's competitive within Ohio. But be realistic about the financial runway: plan for either graduate school funding or for your graduate to build skills applicable to adjacent fields like museum work, cultural resource management, or nonprofit administration where anthropology degrees can provide a foundation.