Compare 25 Anthropology. programs in California. Average earnings: $40,046.
The highest-earning Anthropology program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $20K earnings gap across 25 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
California State University-Channel Islands leads with graduates earning $55,660, while UC Berkeley follows at $54,062. The average across all programs is $40,046, demonstrating that regional state universities can outperform research institutions in specific fields like Anthropology.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 5.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. CSU Channel Islands achieves a 6.2% student burden with even higher earnings, proving top programs can also be affordable.
Highest program earnings: $55,660
Strong outcomes with 93% acceptance
5.7% payment burden | Excellent
16.7% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $55,660 | 20 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,033 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $54,062 | 91 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $50,875 | 44 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $48,746 | 37 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $48,435 | 173 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $46,401 | 257 | $14,000 | Good | $26,176 | High | |
| #7 | $46,322 | 70 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $44,884 | 77 | $15,000 | Good | $22,665 | High | |
| #9 | $44,404 | 60 | $15,000 | Good | $16,507 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $43,020 | 30 | $18,000 | Manageable | $18,257 | High | |
| #11 | $41,155 | 12 | $13,540 | Good | $12,700 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $40,554 | 77 | $15,500 | Good | $24,257 | High | |
| #13 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $40,381 | 27 | $16,705 | Manageable | $27,986 | High |
| #14 | $40,257 | 140 | $16,666 | Manageable | $28,682 | High | |
| #15 | $39,922 | 14 | $13,807 | Good | $11,061 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $39,194 | 59 | $15,000 | Manageable | $25,565 | High | |
| #17 | $37,377 | 78 | $14,289 | Manageable | $15,177 | High | |
| #18 | $37,341 | 44 | $13,000 | Manageable | $12,526 | High | |
| #19 | $36,503 | 105 | $17,500 | Manageable | $18,275 | High | |
| #20 | $35,354 | 64 | $13,872 | Manageable | $13,522 | High | |
| #21 | $34,551 | 27 | $16,000 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | |
| #22 | $28,231 | 47 | $16,552 | High | $17,585 | High | |
| #23 | $26,353 | 14 | $16,144 | High | $18,376 | High | |
| #24 | $21,508 | 22 | $14,505 | High | $12,050 | High | |
| #25 | $19,667 | 30 | $14,715 | High | $12,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
