U.S. median for this major: $46,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 24 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 43% 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 $27,648. College Scorecard.
Washington State University 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 Washington State University'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 | $7,074 | $30,913 | 11.6 years |
| $30–48k | $8,971 | $39,203 | 14.7 years |
| $48–75k | $11,519 | $50,338 | 18.9 years |
| $75–110k | $18,426 | $80,522 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $24,726 | $108,053 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 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 ($42,888) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $2,669 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 Washington State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Washington State University
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,905
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at Washington State University
- Political Science$67,264
- Sociology$57,846
- Economics$70,215
- International Relations—
- Social Sciences$61,617
Washington State University Anthropology questions
How much do Washington State University Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of Washington State University earn a median $42,888 four years after graduating and $25,519 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do Washington State University Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of Washington State University is $18,500, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is Washington State University a good school for Anthropology in Washington?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of Washington State University earn $42,888 four years out, $4,508 below the median for the same major across 4 Washington colleges ($47,396) and $3,232 below the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Washington State University rank for Anthropology in Washington?
Of 4 Washington colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, Washington State University ranks 4th. 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.
Is Washington State University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Washington State University 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: “Washington State University Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/washington-state-university/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).