Anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University's anthropology program starts graduates at just $22,732—well below both the state median of $30,609 and the national average of $27,806. Among Virginia's ten anthropology programs, this ranks in the bottom quartile, with George Mason and JMU graduates earning $8,000-$15,000 more in their first year. The relatively low debt load of $13,996 softens the blow somewhat, but that first-year salary still translates to modest take-home pay in Richmond's housing market.

The 40% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, reaching nearly $32,000 by the fourth year. However, even after this growth, earnings remain below where many comparable Virginia programs start. For a family weighing this investment, the question becomes whether the access provided by VCU's 93% admission rate and lower debt justifies accepting significantly lower initial earning power than peer institutions.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than programs with larger samples. If your student is genuinely passionate about anthropology and VCU is the right fit academically and financially, the manageable debt prevents this from being a high-risk choice. But parents should know this program isn't positioning graduates for strong early earnings compared to other Virginia options.