Anthropology at Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University's anthropology graduates earn $41,986 their first year out—a figure that puts them in the 95th percentile nationally and exceeds the typical anthropology graduate's earnings by more than $14,000. That's a remarkable outcome for a field often associated with low starting salaries. While this program sits at the 60th percentile in New Hampshire (essentially matching Dartmouth's outcomes), the small number of in-state programs makes the national comparison more meaningful. SNHU is producing anthropology graduates who substantially out-earn their peers across the country.

The tradeoff comes in the form of $34,312 in median debt—higher than both the national ($23,000) and state ($27,000) medians for anthropology programs. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 remains manageable, meaning graduates owe less than one year's salary. Given that nearly half of SNHU's students receive Pell grants, this represents a pathway for first-generation and lower-income students to access a humanities degree with above-average earning potential.

For parents weighing this investment, the calculation is straightforward: you're paying about $11,000 more in debt than the typical anthropology program, but your child will likely earn $14,000 more annually. That premium buys access to SNHU's extensive employer network and career services infrastructure, which appears to translate into better job placement outcomes than most anthropology programs can deliver.