Anthropology at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

At first glance, UNH's anthropology graduates appear to be doing reasonably well—they earn more than the national median and carry moderate debt. But zoom into New Hampshire, and a different picture emerges: those $30,380 starting salaries place this program in just the 25th percentile statewide, trailing both Southern New Hampshire University and Dartmouth by $10,000 or more annually. Given that most UNH students likely pay in-state tuition and stay in New Hampshire, that gap matters. The $27,000 debt load is actually quite manageable compared to national norms (5th percentile), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0, which is solid for a liberal arts degree.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, so don't treat them as gospel. What's clear is that anthropology is rarely a high-earning field right out of college, regardless of where you study it. If your child is passionate about this path, UNH won't bury them in debt, but they should plan for graduate school or be strategic about building marketable skills during their undergraduate years. The real question isn't whether UNH is a bad choice—it's whether anthropology as a bachelor's degree alone aligns with your family's financial expectations for that first job after graduation.