Anthropology at University of Memphis

University of Memphis's anthropology program serves as a cautionary example of the disconnect between academic interests and economic outcomes. That $23,112 first-year salary—roughly equivalent to minimum wage full-time work—sits in the bottom fifth nationally for anthropology programs. While the program performs at the 60th percentile within Tennessee, that's context-poor comfort: you're comparing against a field where earning $24,000 makes you a top performer in the state.

The debt picture compounds the problem. At just under $20,100, graduates carry typical debt loads but lack the earnings to service them comfortably. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 means nearly a full year's salary would go to paying off loans. The 49% earnings growth to $34,339 by year four helps, but you're still looking at mid-30s earnings four years into a career. For families stretching to afford college—and 40% of students here receive Pell grants—this is a particularly difficult proposition.

The sample size caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these numbers either direction. But even accounting for statistical noise, the fundamental challenge remains: anthropology degrees rarely lead directly to high-paying work, and this program doesn't appear to be an exception. Unless your child has a clear graduate school plan or career pathway that specifically requires this degree, the economics argue for exploring other majors or considering whether this investment makes sense at all.