U.S. median for this major: $46,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 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 66% 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 $23,867. College Scorecard.
ECU 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 ECU'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 | $10,046 | $43,700 | 5.9 years |
| $30–48k | $11,699 | $50,891 | 6.9 years |
| $48–75k | $14,904 | $64,832 | 8.7 years |
| $75–110k | $20,417 | $88,814 | 12.0 years |
| $110k+ | $23,028 | $100,172 | 13.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($40,927) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $7,411 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | Duke University | $81,120 | — | $29,612 | 97% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $56,589 | $11,982 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $45,890 | $26,000 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 4 | Western Carolina University | $45,809 | $22,595 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $44,228 | $27,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 6 | Appalachian State University | $42,107 | $23,250 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 7 | East Carolina University | $40,927 | $27,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $39,112 | $27,750 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $33,461 | $24,112 | $20,109 | 71% |
5 more North Carolina 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 ECU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ECU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 63% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,146
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at ECU
- Political Science$60,419
- Sociology$44,918
- Economics$64,597
- Geography—
ECU Anthropology questions
How much do ECU Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of East Carolina University earn a median $40,927 four years after graduating and $24,228 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do ECU Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of East Carolina University is $27,000, about 66% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is ECU a good school for Anthropology in North Carolina?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of East Carolina University earn $40,927 four years out, $3,301 below the median for the same major across 9 North Carolina colleges ($44,228) and $5,193 below the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ECU rank for Anthropology in North Carolina?
Of 9 North Carolina colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, East Carolina University ranks 7th. The highest is Duke University at $81,120.
What jobs do Anthropology graduates get?
A common career is forensic science technicians, with a median wage of $59,240 in North Carolina and $72,060 nationally.
Is ECU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing ECU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “East Carolina University Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/east-carolina-university/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).