Anthropology at Rutgers University-Newark

Rutgers-Newark's anthropology program punches well above the national average—graduates earn $37,000 in their first year, compared to just $28,000 nationally. That 95th percentile ranking sounds impressive until you look closer at New Jersey's competitive landscape, where this program sits squarely at the state median. With 10 anthropology programs in NJ, students here earn exactly what they would at Rutgers-New Brunswick, but substantially less than Monmouth's $46,000.

The concerning piece is what happens after graduation. Earnings dip slightly to $36,000 by year four, suggesting these graduates may be hitting their ceiling early in fields that don't reward the degree with advancement. At $26,750 in debt—slightly above the state median—the financial burden is manageable but not negligible. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 means a year's salary won't cover what's owed, though it's far from catastrophic.

For families considering this program, the math works better than anthropology degrees elsewhere, but that's a low bar. If your student is committed to anthropology specifically and wants to stay in New Jersey, this delivers adequate value without excessive debt. But they should expect their early-career salary to be their peak, and plan accordingly for fields where passion matters more than the paycheck.