Anthropology at Utah State University

Utah State's anthropology program produces earnings that track almost perfectly with national figures—graduates start at $27,831 and reach $30,608 after four years. But here's what matters for Utah families: this program sits below the middle of the pack statewide, landing at the 40th percentile among Utah anthropology programs. Weber State's graduates earn about $2,300 more annually with a similar degree, a gap that compounds over a career.

The program does offer one advantage: less debt than typical. At $21,000, graduates owe roughly $2,000 less than the national median for anthropology majors, resulting in a manageable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's below the concerning 1.0 threshold, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to handle their loans even with modest starting salaries. The 10% earnings growth over four years is steady but unremarkable—anthropology isn't known for explosive salary increases early in career trajectories.

For an accessible state school (94% admission rate), this program delivers what you'd expect: a traditional liberal arts degree at a reasonable price. Your child won't graduate with crushing debt, but they also won't earn meaningfully more than anthropology graduates elsewhere. If grad school is the goal, the lower debt load helps. If immediate employment is the plan, understanding that $30,000 salaries are standard for this field—not unique to Utah State—should shape expectations.