Anthropology at State University of New York at New Paltz

The warning signs here are hard to ignore: graduates from this anthropology program earn roughly $17,000 in their first year—less than half the national median for anthropology majors and among the bottom 10% of New York programs. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances could be skewing these numbers significantly, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious scrutiny before committing.

The debt burden of $15,750 might seem modest compared to national figures, but when your first-year earnings barely exceed the poverty line, even moderate debt becomes problematic. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary. Compare this to top-performing SUNY programs like Oneonta, where anthropology graduates earn $32,000+, or even mid-tier options like University at Albany at $30,000. The 14% earnings growth to year four brings graduates to just under $20,000—still far below what peers at other New York public universities achieve immediately after graduation.

Given these numbers, families should view this program skeptically. The small sample caveat matters—perhaps most graduates pursue unpaid internships or graduate school immediately—but without evidence of a clear career pathway that justifies these early earnings, this represents a risky investment. If your child is passionate about anthropology, other SUNY campuses offer dramatically better outcomes at similar tuition rates.