Anthropology: Southern Methodist University vs University of Houston
Head-to-Head
| Southern Methodist University | University of Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 2.2x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 2.2x | 6.1x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $257,840 | $38,844 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $56,550 | $34,669 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $579K | $545K |
| Median Debt | $23,125 | $19,125 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 4.9 months | 6.6 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 41/100 | 48/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 61.2% | 69.5% |
Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Anthropology graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Anthropology graduates.
| Southern Methodist University | University of Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $257,840 | $38,844 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $257,840 | $88,764 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $579K | $545K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 2.2x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 2.2x | 6.1x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +21% | +59% |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Anthropology (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| Southern Methodist University | University of Houston | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $587K | $579K | $524K | $549K | $545K | $499K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 2.3x | 2.2x | 2.0x | 14.1x | 14.0x | 12.8x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 42 | 41 | 34 | 49 | 48 | 42 |
For the full AI analysis of Anthropology career paths, see the Southern Methodist University or University of Houston program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Anthropology graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Anthropology graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | $136,550 | 106,700 | +4.5% | 47% |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $100,590 | 9,600 | +8.7% | 52% |
| Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary | $95,770 | 500 | +2.7% | 52% |
| Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary | $84,290 | 1,100 | +2.4% | 50% |
| Forensic science technicians | $67,440 | 2,900 | +12.8% | 39% |
| Anthropologists and archeologists | $64,910 | 800 | +3.7% | 44% |