Anthropology at University of Maine

The small graduating class here (under 30 students) makes these numbers less reliable, but they tell a story worth examining: anthropology graduates from University of Maine earn roughly $23,300 in their first year—about $4,500 below the national median for this major. While this places the program in the 60th percentile within Maine (meaning it's actually middle-of-the-pack for the state), Maine's anthropology programs collectively underperform the national market. The $27,000 debt load is higher than what most anthropology programs nationally require, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.16 that means graduates owe more than a full year's salary.

For context, anthropology is already among the lower-earning bachelor's degrees nationally, with median first-year earnings around $28,000. This program delivers even less. The combination of below-average starting pay and above-average debt creates real financial pressure in those early career years when loan payments begin. Given the major's open admission rate and that this is one of only six anthropology programs in Maine, families should recognize they're choosing this field for reasons beyond immediate financial return—and even then, stronger-earning programs exist elsewhere in the country.