Anthropology: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$72,767 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.
$72,767Median year-4 earnings
$14,162Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$72,767Median reported earnings · year 4
$71,378Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
13thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
35IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 3 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,283
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,767
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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$72,423National median$72,76775th percentile$72,767
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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
3 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,535Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$16,2642Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$72,767Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,6803University of FloridaGainesville, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$72,423Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,541
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Indiana University-Bloomington$74,5352Michigan State University$72,7673University of Florida$72,423Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
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
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 | Indiana University-BloomingtonDoctoral Degree | Bloomington, IN | $74,535 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,264 |
| 2 | Michigan State UniversityDoctoral Degree | East Lansing, MI | $72,767 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,680 |
| 3 | University of FloridaDoctoral Degree | Gainesville, FL | $72,423 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
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.