Best Anthropology Programs in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Social Sciences Colleges in the Midwest
Regional list from Best Anthropology Programs in the United States
This page ranks 54 Anthropology programs in the Midwest by the median earnings of Anthropology graduates four years after completing. Washington University in St Louis leads the list at $71,018, followed by Loyola University Chicago at $59,024 and Purdue University-Main Campus at $55,624.
The figures span from $71,018 down to $19,227, with a median of $41,501 across the listed schools. For 14 of the 54 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 76% of the list, with 41 public and 13 private nonprofit schools represented. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.
Oakland University posts the lowest average net price at $9,120, while University of South Dakota reports the highest admission rate at 99%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St Louis · St. Louis, MO | $71,018 | $21,786 | $1,716 | 12.1% |
| Washington University in St Louis reports median earnings of $71,018 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 91 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $59,024 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
| A private nonprofit university in Chicago, Loyola University Chicago ranks 2nd on this list and shows a school-wide median federal debt of $24,157 across all its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 3 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $55,624 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus posts an average net price of $14,600 and an admission rate of 50%, alongside median earnings of $55,624 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $54,890 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Ranking 4th on this list, Northern Illinois University reports median earnings of $54,890 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $10,126 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $54,773 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45% of applicants and reports median federal debt of $16,166 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, with median earnings of $54,773 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $53,042 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| With an admission rate of 16%, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reports median earnings of $53,042 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $51,907 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago reports median earnings of $51,907 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,529 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 8 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $50,780 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University reports median federal debt of $24,707 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $50,780 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $50,177 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Ranking 9th on this list, Illinois State University shows an average net price of $19,398 and median earnings of $50,177 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $50,055 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $50,055 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 73 graduates in the earnings cohort and an admission rate of 61%. | |||||
| 11 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $49,351 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia posts median federal debt of $15,430 among Anthropology completers who borrowed and an average net price of $13,841 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 12 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $48,230 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| A public university in Detroit, Wayne State University ranks 12th on this list and reports median earnings of $48,230 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $48,010 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities reports median earnings of $48,010 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 36 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $47,811 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
| With an admission rate of 91%, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports median earnings of $47,811 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $47,485 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln posts an average net price of $17,747 and ranks 15th on this list. | |||||
| 16 | Wichita State University · Wichita, KS | $47,392 | $13,194 | $9,734 | 94.0% |
| Wichita State University sits at 16th on this page, with median earnings of $47,392 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $46,628 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| Oakland University posts an average net price of $4,422 for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $22,750 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 18 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $44,974 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville posts median federal debt of $23,752 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside an admission rate of 98%. | |||||
| 19 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $44,371 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| Ball State University ranks 279th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $44,371 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $44,327 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus shows an average net price of $21,637 and reports median earnings of $44,327 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $43,554 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42% of applicants and its Anthropology graduates four years after completing earned a median of $43,554. | |||||
| 22 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $43,443 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University ranks 22nd on this list, with 24 graduates in the earnings cohort and median federal debt of $26,500 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 23 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $42,796 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University reports median earnings of $42,796 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $16,317. | |||||
| 24 | Hamline University · Saint Paul, MN | $42,751 | $20,744 | $15,371 | 87.6% |
| Hamline University, a private nonprofit university in Saint Paul, ranks 736th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 25 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $42,707 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
| Indiana University-Bloomington reports median earnings of $42,707 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 16 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $42,549 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
| University of Iowa admits 84% of applicants and reports median federal debt of $24,250 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 27 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $41,512 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Anthropology graduates four years after completing earned a median of $41,512. | |||||
| 28 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $41,490 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University, a public university in Kalamazoo, posts an average net price of $5,263 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $41,426 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| Kansas State University ranks 29th on this list, with median federal debt of $20,500 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 30 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $41,242 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports median earnings of $41,242 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 5 graduates. | |||||
| 31 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $40,662 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
| Kent State University at Kent admits 86% of applicants and ranks 415th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 32 | University of Missouri-St Louis · Saint Louis, MO | $40,397 | $15,071 | $13,031 | 62.7% |
| University of Missouri-St Louis carries an average net price of $15,071, and its Anthropology graduates four years after completing earned a median of $40,397. | |||||
| 33 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $40,018 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis ranks 33rd on this list, with an average net price of $5,701 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 34 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $39,577 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University reports median federal debt of $27,982 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $39,577 four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $38,972 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
| Cleveland State University admits 91% of applicants and its Anthropology graduates four years after completing earned a median of $38,972. | |||||
| 36 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $38,870 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
| Missouri State University-Springfield ranks 589th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 23 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 37 | Wheaton College · Wheaton, IL | $37,501 | $26,975 | $20,001 | 87.4% |
| Wheaton College, a private nonprofit university in Wheaton, reports median earnings of $37,501 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 38 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $34,102 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
| University of Northern Iowa admits 93% of applicants and shows an average net price of $15,901. | |||||
| 39 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $33,527 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford ranks 39th on this list, with a median federal debt of $23,000 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 40 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $31,670 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 4.5% |
| University of Chicago ranks 38th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $31,670 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Beloit College · Beloit, WI | $29,754 | $21,526 | $15,176 | 63.0% |
| Beloit College posts an average net price of $15,176 for families earning under $30,000 alongside a 63% admission rate. | |||||
| 42 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $29,685 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
| Northwestern University reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $1,764 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 43 | Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, OH | $27,476 | $41,190 | $19,025 | 36.5% |
| Case Western Reserve University ranks 322nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $41,190. | |||||
| 44 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $25,194 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus admits 85% of applicants and reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 45 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $25,194 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
| An average net price of $7,256 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with an Azimuth composite rank of 543rd among nonprofit four-year institutions at University of Minnesota-Duluth. | |||||
| 46 | The College of Wooster · Wooster, OH | $25,194 | $23,458 | $12,512 | 59.5% |
| The College of Wooster reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 47 | Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH | $25,194 | $38,645 | $18,774 | 34.2% |
| Oberlin College admits 34% of applicants and shows an average net price of $38,645. | |||||
| 48 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $23,803 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
| University of Kansas ranks 183rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $12,544 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 49 | Minnesota State University Moorhead · Moorhead, MN | $22,329 | $17,997 | $11,129 | 58.8% |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead reports median earnings of $22,329 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 6 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $21,234 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| With an admission rate of 80%, Eastern Michigan University ranks 50th on this list and posts an average net price of $15,407. | |||||
| 51 | Grinnell College · Grinnell, IA | $21,052 | $17,648 | $9,970 | 14.5% |
| Grinnell College, a private nonprofit college in Grinnell, admits 15% of applicants and shows an average net price of $9,970 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 52 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $20,140 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| University of Notre Dame ranks 119th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $20,140 in median earnings for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | $19,227 | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% |
| Youngstown State University ranks 53rd on this list with median earnings of $19,227 four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,328 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 54 | University of South Dakota · Vermillion, SD | $19,227 | $19,858 | $14,921 | 98.8% |
| University of South Dakota admits 99% of applicants and reports 13 graduates in the earnings cohort, with median earnings of $19,227 four years after completing. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Anthropology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 14 of the 54 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 54 schools with a published figure. Washington University in St Louis leads at $71,018, with an $11,994 gap between first and second-place Loyola University Chicago, while the spread from top to bottom reaches $51,791.