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 68% 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 $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU 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 MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | 3.7 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 5.7 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 8.6 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 11.9 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 14.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% 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 ($41,512) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $8,101 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor | $53,042 | $14,623 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Wayne State University | $48,230 | $26,493 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 3 | Oakland University | $46,628 | — | $9,120 | 58% |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University | $42,796 | $27,000 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 5 | Michigan State University | $41,512 | $28,084 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 6 | Western Michigan University | $41,490 | $31,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
| 7 | Central Michigan University | $39,577 | $31,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
7 more Michigan 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Political Science$67,032
- Sociology$62,204
- Economics$79,428
- International Relations$74,709
- Social Sciences$58,797
- Geography$56,515
MSU Anthropology questions
How much do MSU Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $41,512 four years after graduating and $28,617 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do MSU Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of Michigan State University is $28,084, about 68% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is MSU a good school for Anthropology in Michigan?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of Michigan State University earn $41,512 four years out, $1,284 below the median for the same major across 7 Michigan colleges ($42,796) and $4,608 below the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Anthropology in Michigan?
Of 7 Michigan colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 5th. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $53,042.
What jobs do Anthropology graduates get?
A common career is forensic science technicians, with a median wage of $88,670 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $72,060 nationally.
Is MSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing MSU 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: “Michigan State University Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).