Anthropology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Starting at $23,379 puts SIUE anthropology graduates roughly $4,400 below the national median and $2,500 below Illinois's state average—a gap that matters when you're already working with humanities-level earnings. While this program sits at the 40th percentile statewide (essentially middle-of-the-pack among Illinois schools), it trails the top programs significantly. Northwestern grads start at $33,000, and even Illinois State hits the state median of $26,000.

The debt load of $25,000 matches both the state and near-national averages, which ordinarily wouldn't raise concerns. But paired with these lower earnings, you're looking at a debt-to-income ratio just over 1.0—manageable but tight for a new graduate. The 97% admission rate and modest test scores suggest SIUE serves a broad population, which can mean varied career preparation and networking opportunities compared to more selective institutions.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing considerably with just a few high or low earners. If your child is passionate about anthropology and committed to SIUE, the debt burden isn't catastrophic. But they should understand they'll likely need graduate school or strategic career planning to reach comfortable earnings levels, and this program doesn't appear to offer a particular advantage over transfer options or the state's larger research universities.