U.S. median for this major: $46,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 62 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 28% 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 $34,654. College Scorecard.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 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 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor'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 | $1,043 | $4,308 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,878 | $7,756 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $4,895 | $20,216 | 1.0 years |
| $75–110k | $10,869 | $44,889 | 2.3 years |
| $110k+ | $26,517 | $109,515 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (82% 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 ($53,042) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,631 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 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Acceptance rate: 16% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 93% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $83,648
- Full cost breakdown · all 88 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Political Science$77,480
- Sociology$63,419
- Economics$110,552
- Social Sciences—
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Anthropology questions
How much do University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor earn a median $53,042 four years after graduating and $24,079 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is $14,623, about 28% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor a good school for Anthropology in Michigan?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor earn $53,042 four years out, $10,246 above the median for the same major across 7 Michigan colleges ($42,796) and $6,922 above the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor rank for Anthropology in Michigan?
Of 7 Michigan colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Anthropology graduates get?
A common career is forensic science technicians, with a median wage of — in Michigan and $72,060 nationally.
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 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: “University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).