Anthropology at Stony Brook University

At a SUNY flagship with a 1410 average SAT, you might expect anthropology graduates to earn near the state median of $26,449—but first-year earnings of $23,845 fall short even by anthropology's modest standards. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, that's only because New York's anthropology programs generally underperform the national median. The $19,449 debt load is relatively manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few gap-year students or grad school admits could be skewing these numbers significantly.

The real concern is context: other SUNY schools like Oneonta and Binghamton produce anthropology graduates earning $32,000-$31,000 in their first year, while private options like Fordham reach $40,000. If your child is genuinely passionate about anthropology and committed to graduate work (often necessary for career advancement in this field), Stony Brook's lower debt compared to the national median offers some cushion. But these earnings barely cover living expenses in the New York metro area, and starting $3,000 below the state median matters when you're already in a low-earning field. Before committing, verify these numbers with the university directly and understand what percentage of graduates pursue advanced degrees—that could explain both the low immediate earnings and the small sample size.