Anthropology at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's anthropology program delivers some of the strongest early earnings in the field—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Colorado anthropology programs. At $36,822, graduates earn about $9,600 more than the typical anthropology graduate nationwide and roughly $9,600 more than Colorado's state median. The $20,000 in typical debt is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that most graduates can handle within a few years of employment.

The concerning element here is the flatline: earnings actually dip slightly by year four rather than growing. This isn't unusual for anthropology degrees, where many graduates pursue graduate school, nonprofit work, or career pivots that don't immediately translate to higher salaries. The field tends to reward graduate credentials and specialized expertise more than bachelor's-level experience alone.

For families comfortable with a liberal arts trajectory, this is one of the better anthropology programs you'll find. Your child will graduate with less debt than most anthropology majors and higher starting earnings than 95% of their national peers. Just understand that this degree is a foundation rather than a direct career launcher—many successful paths will require additional education or several years of building expertise in a specific direction.