Anthropology at University of Georgia

The first-year earnings of $20,396 should raise immediate concerns—this program ranks in just the 10th percentile among Georgia's anthropology programs, meaning 90% of similar degrees in the state deliver better outcomes. With eight anthropology programs in Georgia, UGA's sits near the bottom, trailing not just Emory ($36,700) but also regional universities like West Georgia and Kennesaw State that achieve median earnings above $30,000. Even Georgia State's anthropology grads, starting at $21,157, outpace UGA's.

The 84% earnings growth to year four ($37,575) provides some recovery, but context matters: graduates are spending their first few years climbing back to what their peers at other Georgia schools earned right out of college. The debt load of $20,366 is reasonable in absolute terms, sitting below both state and national medians, but it equals an entire year's starting salary—a concerning ratio when better-performing programs charge similar amounts.

These numbers come from a small sample (under 30 graduates), so they might not represent the full picture. However, if you're paying out-of-state tuition or turning down merit aid elsewhere for UGA, this data suggests the anthropology program specifically isn't delivering competitive value. Georgia families have demonstrably better options for this major within their own state system.