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 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 the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
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, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. 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 reported completion median. University of California-Berkeley leads Sonoma State University by a gap of $1,685.