Best Anthropology Programs in the Northeast (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Anthropology Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 52 Anthropology programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Anthropology graduates four years after completing. Columbia University in the City of New York ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $83,493 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $83,493 to $18,154, with a median of $42,828. For 20 of the 52 programs, the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions make up 62% of the list, with 32 public and 20 private nonprofit schools represented. CUNY Hunter College ranks 20th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on the page. CUNY Hunter College posts the lowest average net price, at $2,984.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY | $83,493 | $21,590 | $4,570 | 4.0% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York reports median earnings of $83,493 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
| 2 | Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH | $70,846 | $29,519 | $41 | 5.4% |
| Dartmouth College admits 5% of applicants and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $70,846 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $66,562 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 59.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $24,300 in federal loans at Fordham University, a private nonprofit university in Bronx. | |||||
| 4 | CUNY Lehman College · Bronx, NY | $60,488 | $3,148 | $1,589 | 56.6% |
| CUNY Lehman College ranks 4th on this list and carries an average net price of $3,148. | |||||
| 5 | Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY | $58,329 | $18,784 | $12,943 | 49.0% |
| Stony Brook University posts a median of $58,329 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 6 | Brandeis University · Waltham, MA | $57,423 | $35,736 | $13,363 | 40.5% |
| Brandeis University ranks 799th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an admission rate of 40%. | |||||
| 7 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $56,468 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick shows median earnings of $56,468 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 9. | |||||
| 8 | SUNY Oneonta · Oneonta, NY | $55,981 | $19,158 | $11,044 | 69.6% |
| SUNY Oneonta carries an average net price of $19,158 and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $55,981 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Monmouth University · West Long Branch, NJ | $55,868 | $30,988 | $18,924 | 89.0% |
| Monmouth University reports an admission rate of 89% and median federal debt of $27,000 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 10 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $54,907 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| University of Connecticut ranks 105th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $54,907 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · Bloomsburg, PA | $53,927 | $15,699 | $11,374 | 93.1% |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $53,927 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $53,722 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| Boston University shows an average net price of $24,402 and an admission rate of 11%. | |||||
| 13 | Binghamton University · Vestal, NY | $53,460 | $21,620 | $12,171 | 38.6% |
| Binghamton University reports median earnings of $53,460 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 33 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $53,196 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Syracuse, Syracuse University carries an average net price of $38,793 and an admission rate of 46%. | |||||
| 15 | CUNY Hunter College · New York, NY | $51,787 | $2,984 | $1,029 | 53.8% |
| CUNY Hunter College ranks 15th on this list and holds an Azimuth composite rank of 20th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $50,640 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $25,000 in federal loans at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, where the Anthropology program reports median earnings of $50,640 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Bridgewater State University · Bridgewater, MA | $50,376 | $16,383 | $10,007 | 87.8% |
| Bridgewater State University posts an admission rate of 88% and an average net price of $10,007 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 18 | University of Vermont · Burlington, VT | $49,987 | $19,343 | $11,127 | 65.3% |
| With 23 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of Vermont reports median earnings of $49,987 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ | $47,225 | $15,566 | $10,880 | 87.9% |
| Montclair State University ranks 56th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $15,566. | |||||
| 20 | University at Albany · Albany, NY | $47,095 | $17,167 | $11,112 | 69.1% |
| University at Albany admits 69% of applicants and shows median earnings of $47,095 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh, PA | $46,328 | $30,434 | $14,709 | 58.1% |
| The median federal debt across all of University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus's borrowers who completed is $24,250, alongside an average net price of $14,709 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 22 | Colby College · Waterville, ME | $44,971 | $17,180 | $4,049 | 7.1% |
| Colby College, a private nonprofit college in Waterville, reports median earnings of $44,971 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania · Millersville, PA | $44,440 | $20,787 | $14,565 | 86.2% |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranks 23rd on this list and carries an admission rate of 86% with 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 24 | University at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY | $44,274 | $20,995 | $14,668 | 74.2% |
| University at Buffalo posts an average net price of $20,995 and a median of $19,000 in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 25 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $43,793 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| Temple University reports median earnings of $43,793 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | University of Massachusetts-Boston · Boston, MA | $43,053 | $17,707 | $14,070 | 83.8% |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston admits 84% of applicants and shows an average net price of $17,707. | |||||
| 27 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $42,604 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania left with a median of $26,798 in federal loans, and the school ranks 568th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | SUNY College at Geneseo · Geneseo, NY | $42,216 | $18,211 | $10,018 | 66.5% |
| SUNY College at Geneseo ranks 28th on this list and reports an average net price of $10,018 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | Mount Holyoke College · South Hadley, MA | $41,274 | $26,441 | $10,882 | 36.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College posts median earnings of $41,274 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $40,510 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus has an admission rate of 88% and a median of $26,814 in federal loans across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 31 | SUNY at Purchase College · Purchase, NY | $40,048 | $18,913 | $11,835 | 74.1% |
| SUNY at Purchase College ranks 907th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $40,048 four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | Brown University · Providence, RI | $35,060 | $25,184 | -$420* | 5.4% |
| Brown University admits 5% of applicants and reports median earnings of $35,060 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $34,526 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University shows an average net price of $1,776 for families earning under $30,000, alongside a 9% admission rate. | |||||
| 34 | CUNY Brooklyn College · Brooklyn, NY | $33,127 | $3,103 | $1,029 | 58.4% |
| CUNY Brooklyn College reports an average net price of $3,103 and median earnings of $33,127 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $32,569 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
| With an average net price of $1,251 for families earning under $30,000, CUNY City College ranks 48th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 36 | Drew University · Madison, NJ | $31,670 | $24,280 | $15,224 | 67.8% |
| Drew University posts median earnings of $31,670 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, and the school ranks 1044th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 37 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $31,186 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst reports median earnings of $31,186 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $22,383. | |||||
| 38 | Barnard College · New York, NY | $30,771 | $28,800 | $11,600 | 8.8% |
| A private nonprofit institution in New York, Barnard College admits 9% of applicants and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $30,771 four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $29,685 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| SUNY Buffalo State University ranks 39th on this list and carries an average net price of $7,405 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 40 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA | $29,685 | $21,331 | $15,957 | 90.8% |
| With a 91% admission rate, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania posts median earnings of $29,685 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY | $29,685 | $32,297 | $9,932 | 21.1% |
| Skidmore College ranks 1091st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts) · Norton, MA | $29,685 | $29,822 | $20,076 | 67.7% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) shows an average net price of $29,822 and a median of $29,685 in earnings for Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | CUNY Queens College · Queens, NY | $28,598 | $4,195 | $1,541 | 64.4% |
| CUNY Queens College ranks 61st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $1,541 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 44 | New York University · New York, NY | $28,598 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in New York, New York University admits 9% of applicants and reports median earnings of $28,598 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 45 | Harvard University · Cambridge, MA | $26,353 | $19,066 | $8,697 | 3.7% |
| Harvard University reports an average net price of $8,697 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $26,353 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | State University of New York at Oswego · Oswego, NY | $25,774 | $16,236 | $8,714 | 80.6% |
| State University of New York at Oswego ranks 46th on this list, with an average net price of $16,236 and a median of $25,774 in earnings for Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | Bryn Mawr College · Bryn Mawr, PA | $22,667 | $31,759 | $11,017 | 29.4% |
| Bryn Mawr College admits 29% of applicants and its Anthropology graduates earn a median of $22,667 four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania · West Chester, PA | $21,964 | $23,331 | $17,018 | 78.4% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranks 404th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $21,964 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $20,140 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz ranks 49th on this list, with median earnings of $20,140 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $18,809. | |||||
| 50 | Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY | $19,227 | $33,926 | $21,901 | 69.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Ithaca, Ithaca College reports an admission rate of 69% and median earnings of $19,227 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $18,771 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| Central Connecticut State University posts an average net price of $13,589 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 175th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 52 | Wellesley College · Wellesley, MA | $18,154 | $25,496 | $2,546 | 14.1% |
| Wellesley College admits 14% of applicants and reports median earnings of $18,154 for its Anthropology graduates 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 Northeast appear. The figure covers federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled. For 20 of the 52 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 gap between Columbia University in the City of New York and Dartmouth College is $12,647, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $65,339.
Related rankings
- Best Anthropology Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Anthropology Programs in the Midwest
- Best Anthropology Programs in the West
- Best Anthropology Programs in the South
- Social Sciences Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility