Anthropology at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Based on comparable anthropology programs in New Jersey, William Paterson graduates can expect first-year earnings around $37,000—which puts them right at the state median but well above the $27,800 typical nationally for this major. That's the good news. The challenge is the estimated $26,750 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 that means nearly three-quarters of a year's salary goes toward loan balances. For context, similar programs in the state carry comparable debt loads, so this appears to be the territory that comes with earning an anthropology degree in New Jersey.

The practical reality: your child would likely start with monthly loan payments around $300 on a first-year salary of roughly $3,080 per month before taxes. That's manageable but tight, especially in New Jersey's high cost-of-living areas. What matters most is what comes after that first year—anthropology careers often require graduate work or pivot into adjacent fields like nonprofit management, HR, or user research where the bachelor's serves as a foundation rather than a terminal credential.

Given that 44% of William Paterson students receive Pell grants, the school serves many families for whom this debt level represents significant risk. The estimates here suggest this program won't saddle graduates with crushing debt, but it's unlikely to launch them into immediately comfortable earnings either. If your child is passionate about anthropology and has a clear path for how they'll build on the degree, the numbers work—barely. If they're uncertain, the debt-to-earnings picture leaves little room for career exploration.