Archeology at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

UW-La Crosse's archeology program is a standout performer nationally, placing graduates in the 95th percentile for earnings among all archeology bachelor's programs in the country. With first-year earnings of $29,547 and manageable debt of $23,008, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78—meaning the typical student can realistically pay off their loans in under a year of focused repayment. That's rare for humanities programs and suggests strong practical outcomes.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth, reaching $34,960 by year four—an 18% increase that indicates graduates are building viable careers rather than stagnating in entry-level positions. While archeology isn't a high-earning field overall (the national median starts at $26,804), UW-La Crosse clearly does something right in preparing students to compete for better opportunities. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these numbers without the instability you'd see from smaller cohorts.

For families worried about the practicality of a humanities degree, this program offers an unusually strong value proposition. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings creates genuine financial viability—not the common scenario where passion fields leave graduates struggling under loan burdens. If your student is genuinely committed to archeology, this is one of the better-positioned programs for translating that interest into stable employment.