Best Anthropology Programs in the West (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Anthropology Programs in the United States
This page lists the 59 Anthropology programs in the West with a reported earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Anthropology graduates four years after completing. University of California-Berkeley ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $64,359 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $45,184, with a range from $64,359 to $17,717. For 12 of the 59 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 97% of the list, with 57 public and 2 private nonprofit schools represented. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $64,359 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports median earnings of $64,359 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
| 2 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $62,674 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| Sonoma State University admits 93% of applicants and posts median earnings of $62,674 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $61,300 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University ranks 51st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside median earnings of $61,300 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $56,982 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego carries an average net price of $12,470 and median federal debt of $13,500 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 5 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $56,836 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| Median earnings of $56,836 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing coincide with an average net price of $14,741 at University of California-Davis. | |||||
| 6 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $56,238 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| An admission rate of 33% and median federal debt of $18,000 among Anthropology completers who borrowed are reported by University of California-Santa Barbara. | |||||
| 7 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $55,217 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder reports an average net price of $25,346 and median earnings of $55,217 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $54,905 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| Ranking 8th on this list, University of California-Los Angeles carries an average net price of $5,579 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 9 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $54,092 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton posts median earnings of $54,092 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 10 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $53,991 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University shows median federal debt of $12,886 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside an admission rate of 36%. | |||||
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $53,212 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports median earnings of $53,212 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 12 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $53,125 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver admits 99% of applicants and carries median federal debt of $25,783 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 13 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $52,315 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz reports median earnings of $52,315 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 110 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $51,951 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
| California State University-Channel Islands admits 95% of applicants and shows median federal debt of $19,375 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 15 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $51,715 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
| University of Northern Colorado posts an average net price of $17,760 and ranks 15th on this list. | |||||
| 16 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $50,850 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| An admission rate of 29% coincides with median earnings of $50,850 for Anthropology graduates four years after completing at University of California-Irvine. | |||||
| 17 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $50,703 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
| Western Washington University shows median federal debt of $21,727 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $50,703 four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $49,848 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
| California State University-San Marcos ranks 18th on this list and reports an average net price of $6,230 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 19 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $49,597 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion reports median earnings of $49,597 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 20 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $49,187 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno shows an average net price of $7,000 and median federal debt of $15,000 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 21 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $48,607 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
| University of Nevada-Reno ranks 209th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $48,607 for Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $48,367 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento admits 94% of applicants and shows median federal debt of $18,750 among Anthropology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 23 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $47,958 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus reports median earnings of $47,958 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 29 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 24 | University of Alaska Anchorage · Anchorage, AK | $47,547 | $15,301 | $11,582 | Not reported |
| A school-wide median federal debt of $20,210 across all of its borrowers who completed is reported by University of Alaska Anchorage, alongside an average net price of $11,582 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 25 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $47,166 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach reports $47,166 in median earnings for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,440. | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $46,321 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State University-Stanislaus ranks 26th on this list and posts median earnings of $46,321 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $45,920 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
| University of Oregon shows median federal debt of $22,000 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, while its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $45,920. | |||||
| 28 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $45,833 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
| Fort Lewis College ranks 909th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $45,833 in median earnings for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $45,821 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| University of California-Riverside posts an average net price of $14,304 and median earnings of $45,821 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 110 graduates. | |||||
| 30 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $45,184 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
| Graduates of Oregon State University's Anthropology program earned a median of $45,184 four years after completing, and the school admits 77% of applicants. | |||||
| 31 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $44,089 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
| Central Washington University reports median federal debt of $20,500 among Anthropology completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $44,089 four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $43,885 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| University of Arizona ranks 75th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $43,885 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $43,492 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
| With an average net price of $16,200, University of Utah reports $43,492 in median earnings for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $43,192 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $43,192 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $43,153 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| Median federal debt among Anthropology completers who borrowed is $18,263 at California State University-Chico, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $43,153. | |||||
| 36 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $43,129 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins ranks 36th on this list, with median earnings of $43,129 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
| 37 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $42,888 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
| Washington State University reports median earnings of $42,888 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 38 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $41,759 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
| Portland State University admits 91% of applicants and shows an average net price of $9,552. | |||||
| 39 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $41,464 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ranks 390th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its admission rate is 98%. | |||||
| 40 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $40,630 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranks 40th on this list, with median earnings of $40,630 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $40,550 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
| The University of Montana posts an average net price of $13,960 for families earning under $30,000, and its admission rate is 96%. | |||||
| 42 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $40,417 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| California State University-San Bernardino reports median earnings of $40,417 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $4,564. | |||||
| 43 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $39,597 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
| Northern Arizona University admits 90% of applicants and ranks 127th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 44 | Idaho State University · Pocatello, ID | $38,342 | $12,193 | $10,593 | Not reported |
| Idaho State University shows median earnings of $38,342 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,039 in federal loans. | |||||
| 45 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $37,581 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks 45th on this list, with an average net price of $10,675 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 46 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $37,443 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona reports median earnings of $37,443 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate is 75%. | |||||
| 47 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $36,830 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
| Boise State University admits 87% of applicants and shows an average net price of $21,610. | |||||
| 48 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | $34,420 | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranks 130th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $6,743 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 49 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $33,281 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills reports median earnings of $33,281 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with 28 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $32,382 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
| University of Wyoming admits 97% of applicants and shows an average net price of $13,599. | |||||
| 51 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $27,669 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Montana State University ranks 51st on this list and carries an average net price of $22,499. | |||||
| 52 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $26,353 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| University of California-Merced posts an average net price of $11,983 and sits at 121st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 53 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $25,194 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| California State University-Los Angeles reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $3,967. | |||||
| 54 | University of Hawaii at Hilo · Hilo, HI | $25,194 | $11,856 | $8,983 | 60.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo shows an admission rate of 61% and a median of $25,194 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $24,035 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
| An average net price of $14,831 and 12 graduates in the earnings cohort accompany University of Idaho's rank of 55th on this list. | |||||
| 56 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs, CO | $22,329 | $15,788 | $12,065 | 97.4% |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs reports an admission rate of 97% and sits at 394th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 57 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $22,192 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
| Pacific Lutheran University, a private nonprofit university in Tacoma, reports median earnings of $22,192 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 58 | Willamette University · Salem, OR | $21,508 | $25,121 | $16,182 | 77.1% |
| Willamette University shows an average net price of $25,121 and an admission rate of 77%. | |||||
| 59 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $17,717 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $17,717 for its Anthropology graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $8,889. | |||||
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 West appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 12 of the 59 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 from $64,359 to $17,717 and the median of $45,184 cover the 59 schools with a published figure. University of California-Berkeley leads Sonoma State University by a gap of $1,685.