Sociology and Anthropology Degree

10 schools compared · Average earnings $29,310/yr

Students study human societies through the combined lenses of sociology and anthropology, examining both contemporary social structures and cross-cultural human experience. Graduates typically pursue careers in social research, cultural consulting, community development, international NGOs, and UX research for tech companies. This dual perspective provides particularly strong preparation for understanding diverse communities and global social dynamics.

What Sociology and Anthropology Graduates Do

Your degree trains you to be an expert on people, culture, and social systems, skills most often applied in business, government, and non-profits. You might start as a junior analyst, poring over interview transcripts and survey data to help a tech company understand its users or a city agency assess a new public program. With experience, you could advance to lead a user research team or become a manager, using your deep understanding of group dynamics to guide organizational strategy and develop effective teams.

While many envision a career as a field anthropologist or university professor, it's crucial to know these academic and pure research roles have very few openings and are intensely competitive. The largest opportunity by far is in management, where your analytical skills are in high demand.

AI will significantly change how you work. Expect it to automate routine tasks like data collection and initial analysis, shifting your job away from processing information. Your core value will lie in designing the right research questions, interpreting the complex cultural nuances that AI misses, and advising leaders on human-centered problems. Adaptability will be essential as your role evolves to focus more on strategy and judgment.

Schools Offering
10
Avg Grad Earnings
$29,310/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
30/100
AI Automation Risk
High
54% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Sociology and Anthropology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 109,400 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K$179K
106,700 +4.5% 47%
Sociologists
$101,690
$78K$135K
300 +3.6% 54%
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
$95,770
$67K$123K
500 +2.7% 52%
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540
$64K$113K
1,100 +2.1% 43%
Anthropologists and archeologists
$64,910
$51K$83K
800 +3.7% 44%
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K $179K
106,700 openings/yr +4.5% growth 47% AI risk
Sociologists
$101,690
$78K $135K
300 openings/yr +3.6% growth 54% AI risk
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
$95,770
$67K $123K
500 openings/yr +2.7% growth 52% AI risk
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540
$64K $113K
1,100 openings/yr +2.1% growth 43% AI risk
Anthropologists and archeologists
$64,910
$51K $83K
800 openings/yr +3.7% growth 44% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Sociology and Anthropology

10 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY
40
36–40
$34,139/yr 13.1x
2 Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA
40
37–41
$30,802/yr 17.2x
3 Lafayette College
Easton, PA
37
32–38
$43,321/yr 0.7x
4 University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA
35
31–36
$34,388/yr 4.7x
5 Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR
29
27–30
$27,702/yr 4.7x
6 Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR
27
25–27
$24,098/yr -0.0x
7 Centre College
Danville, KY
25
23–26
$29,054/yr 2.0x
8 University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
25
24–26
$19,495/yr -0.2x
9 Knox College
Galesburg, IL
23
21–23
$26,350/yr 0.2x
10 Denison University
Granville, OH
18
16–18
$23,752/yr 1.2x

Highest Earning Sociology and Anthropology Programs

Schools where Sociology and Anthropology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Lafayette College $43,321/yr 37
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth $34,388/yr 35
College of Staten Island CUNY $34,139/yr 40
Valdosta State University $30,802/yr 40
Centre College $29,054/yr 25
Southern Oregon University $27,702/yr 29
Knox College $26,350/yr 23
Lewis & Clark College $24,098/yr 27
Denison University $23,752/yr 18
University of Puget Sound $19,495/yr 25

Best ROI for Sociology and Anthropology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Sociology and Anthropology.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
Valdosta State University 17.2x $30,802/yr 40
College of Staten Island CUNY 13.1x $34,139/yr 40
Southern Oregon University 4.7x $27,702/yr 29
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth 4.7x $34,388/yr 35
Centre College 2.0x $29,054/yr 25
Denison University 1.2x $23,752/yr 18
Lafayette College 0.7x $43,321/yr 37
Knox College 0.2x $26,350/yr 23
Lewis & Clark College -0.0x $24,098/yr 27
University of Puget Sound -0.2x $19,495/yr 25
Want to compare two Sociology and Anthropology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Sociology and Anthropology graduates earn?
Across 10 schools, Sociology and Anthropology graduates earn an average of $29,310 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $19,495 to $43,321 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Sociology and Anthropology?
Sociology and Anthropology is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 54% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Sociology and Anthropology program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), College of Staten Island CUNY ranks #1 for Sociology and Anthropology with a score of 40/100 and graduate earnings of $34,139/yr.
What's the outlook for a Sociology and Anthropology degree?
On average, Sociology and Anthropology graduates earn 4.4x their in-state tuition over 10 years. ROI varies significantly by school — choose carefully.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →