Anthropology at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

At first glance, UNCG's anthropology program looks reasonable—debt sits well below both national and state medians, creating a manageable 1.04 debt-to-earnings ratio. The challenge is what happens after graduation: starting earnings of $25,901 trail both the state median ($26,853) and national median ($27,806), placing this program in the 40th percentile among North Carolina anthropology degrees. More concerning, earnings barely budge over the first four years, growing just 3% to $26,671.

Compare this to other accessible NC public universities: NC State graduates earn $29,518 right out of the gate, and even Western Carolina tops $28,000. Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill operate in a different tier entirely, but it's worth noting that UNCG's more open admissions (90% acceptance rate) serve a different student population—nearly half receive Pell grants—so direct comparison requires nuance.

The debt situation provides some comfort here. Borrowing $27,000 to earn $26,000 annually isn't ideal, but it's far from catastrophic, especially for humanities graduates who often pursue graduate school or pivot to other fields. If your child is passionate about anthropology and plans to use this degree as a stepping stone—perhaps toward nonprofit work, education, or further study—the manageable debt makes that feasible. But if the goal is immediate financial independence, the flat earnings trajectory suggests looking at other majors or other campuses where anthropology graduates command higher starting salaries.