Anthropology at Texas State University

Texas State's anthropology program outperforms most of its in-state peers, landing in the 60th percentile among Texas schools—a meaningful achievement when you consider that several higher-ranked programs come from universities with far more selective admissions and higher costs. The first-year salary of $30,108 beats both the national and state medians, while the $25,000 debt load remains reasonable at 0.83 times earnings. That's manageable debt for a humanities degree, particularly when graduates see 17% income growth by year four.

The trajectory here matters: reaching $35,316 four years out suggests graduates are finding their footing in research institutions, cultural resource management, or adjacent fields that value social science training. While this doesn't approach the elite outcomes at SMU (where anthropology graduates earn $56,550), it compares favorably to similar public universities like Texas Tech and even edges out Baylor's median. For a university with an 89% admission rate and substantial Pell Grant enrollment, these outcomes reflect solid preparation without the price premium of private alternatives.

The main consideration is whether your student has realistic career plans beyond the bachelor's level. Anthropology typically requires graduate school for traditional career paths, so these numbers represent a starting point rather than a ceiling. If your child plans to work immediately after graduation—perhaps in non-profit administration, education, or corporate research—the debt level won't feel overwhelming. Just understand you're investing in versatile critical thinking skills rather than a direct career pipeline.