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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4502

Anthropology: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 3 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$57,283 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$57,283Median year-4 earnings

$17,236Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$57,283Median reported earnings · year 4

$63,473Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

9thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

3Reporting programs

3With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $45,920
Federal debt: $23,000
Reporting programs: 208

189 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $57,283
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $72,767
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$46,511National median$57,28375th percentile$57,283

3 programs report year‑4 earnings.

DECISION CHECK

What to compare before choosing a program

The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.

$57,28375th-percentile year-4 earnings among reporting programs

Not availableMedian federal debt across programs that report it

0Programs with earnings in the top quarter and debt at or below the median

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Binghamton University$60,382 2Northern Arizona University$57,283 3Georgia State University$46,511

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSOC 19-3091 · 6 crosswalk linksAnthropology and Archeology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1061 · 6 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 6 crosswalk linksArea, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1062 · 1 crosswalk linksForensic Science TechniciansSOC 19-4092 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR ANTHROPOLOGY

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Binghamton UniversityMaster's Degree	Vestal, NY	$60,382	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,620
2	Northern Arizona UniversityMaster's Degree	Flagstaff, AZ	$57,283	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,158
3	Georgia State UniversityMaster's Degree	Atlanta, GA	$46,511	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,931

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.