U.S. median for this major: $46,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 33 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 51% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,924.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,816. College Scorecard.
CWU Anthropology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Anthropology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses CWU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,846 | $52,478 | 13.6 years |
| $30–48k | $13,942 | $61,763 | 16.0 years |
| $48–75k | $16,022 | $70,977 | 18.3 years |
| $75–110k | $21,682 | $96,051 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $26,719 | $118,365 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Anthropology graduates 4 years after graduating ($44,089) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,870 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Anthropology at Washington colleges
Every Washington college we cover that reports Anthropology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $53,212 | $12,000 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 2 | Western Washington University | $50,703 | $22,000 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 3 | Central Washington University | $44,089 | $22,500 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 4 | Washington State University | $42,888 | $18,500 | $14,971 | 61% |
5 more Washington colleges offer Anthropology but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Anthropology graduates
Forensic Science Technicians
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +13.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at CWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CWU
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,580
- Full cost breakdown · all 113 majors · overview
Related majors at CWU
- Political Science$64,361
- Sociology$63,608
- Economics$88,799
- Social Sciences$58,680
- Geography$53,081
CWU Anthropology questions
How much do CWU Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of Central Washington University earn a median $44,089 four years after graduating and $20,318 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do CWU Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of Central Washington University is $22,500, about 51% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is CWU a good school for Anthropology in Washington?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of Central Washington University earn $44,089 four years out, $3,307 below the median for the same major across 4 Washington colleges ($47,396) and $2,031 below the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CWU rank for Anthropology in Washington?
Of 4 Washington colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, Central Washington University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Washington-Seattle Campus at $53,212.
What jobs do Anthropology graduates get?
A common career is forensic science technicians, with a median wage of $81,310 in Washington and $72,060 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Central Washington University Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-washington-university/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).