Anthropology at Portland State University

Portland State's anthropology program significantly outperforms national expectations—graduates earn $34,862 in their first year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally for this degree. That's $7,000 more than the typical anthropology graduate earns. However, the Oregon context is less impressive: this program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, slightly above Oregon's median of $32,573 but not dramatically so. The modest debt load of $23,500 (about three months below the state median for anthropology programs) translates to manageable payments relative to that first-year income.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, a few high earners could be skewing the picture upward. The nearly flat earnings trajectory—just 3% growth over four years—suggests graduates may hit their ceiling quickly, though $35,877 four years out still beats what most anthropology majors earn anywhere in the country.

For Oregon families, this represents a solid if unspectacular option. Your student will likely earn more than anthropology graduates from most programs nationwide, graduate with reasonable debt, and gain access to Portland's nonprofit and public sector job market. Just understand that the small sample means these results might not hold for every graduate, and earnings growth appears limited once they're established in their careers.