Anthropology at The University of Texas at Arlington

This program's tiny sample size makes definitive judgments impossible, but the available numbers tell a troubling story. With graduates earning just $17,229 one year out—ranking in the bottom 10% both nationally and within Texas—this is among the weakest-performing anthropology programs in the state. For context, UT Austin's anthropology graduates earn nearly double ($31,369), while Southern Methodist's earn over three times as much ($56,550).

The dramatic 97% earnings jump by year four suggests graduates may be finding their footing eventually, reaching $33,928. However, that four-year figure still trails the state median of $28,369 when measured at year one, indicating a prolonged struggle to reach typical starting salaries. The $19,500 debt load is at least below state and national averages, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 in year one, graduates face over a year of full salary just to cover their loans.

UTA serves a large population of working-class students (40% receive Pell grants), and anthropology is inherently a challenging field for immediate employment. But ranking in the bottom 10% statewide suggests systemic placement issues. Unless your child has specific graduate school plans or family financial support to weather the early-career earnings gap, other programs at UTA—or anthropology programs at UT Austin or Texas State—would likely provide better returns.