U.S. median for this major: $46,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 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 75% 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 $29,237. College Scorecard.
WMU 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 WMU'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 | $5,263 | $24,262 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | 3.3 years |
| $48–75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | 7.9 years |
| $75–110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | 10.4 years |
| $110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | 13.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (29% 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 ($41,490) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $8,079 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 WMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WMU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,562
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at WMU
- Political Science$54,840
- Sociology$51,835
- Economics—
- Geography$49,921
WMU Anthropology questions
How much do WMU Anthropology graduates earn?
Anthropology graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median $41,490 four years after graduating and $22,670 one year after. The U.S. median for Anthropology graduates across 186 colleges is $46,120.
How much debt do WMU Anthropology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates of Western Michigan University is $31,000, about 75% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,924.
Is WMU a good school for Anthropology in Michigan?
On pay, Anthropology graduates of Western Michigan University earn $41,490 four years out, $1,306 below the median for the same major across 7 Michigan colleges ($42,796) and $4,630 below the U.S. median ($46,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does WMU rank for Anthropology in Michigan?
Of 7 Michigan colleges reporting Anthropology graduate earnings, Western Michigan University ranks 6th. 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 — in Michigan 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: “Western Michigan University Anthropology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/anthropology (College Scorecard and BLS data).