Home › California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt › Anthropology

Anthropology at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $19,868/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #81 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Anthropology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $549K $544K $499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 17.2x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.9x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 44% 41% 30%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,668
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,986
10.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,504
134% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Anthropology graduates start at $19,868/yr, trailing the $28,155 national average by 29%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 17.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,986 debt-to-$19,868 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #81 out of 178 programs, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Anthropology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $19,868 to $46,504 over five years (134% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

A 99% acceptance rate means California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,491 in Arcata, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary $95,770/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 178 schools offering Anthropology →

Anthropology at Other Schools

Southern Methodist University ($56,550) Monmouth University ($46,302) Duke University ($43,924) Southern New Hampshire University ($41,986) Fordham University ($40,384) Dartmouth College ($40,071) CUNY Lehman College ($38,879) George Mason University ($37,081)

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($55,589) Forestry ($52,810) Plant Sciences ($44,038) Computer Science ($37,153) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($36,586) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($36,444) Political Science and Government ($36,079) Social Work ($35,693)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Anthropology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Anthropology program score?
This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Anthropology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Anthropology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Anthropology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Anthropology earnings lower at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
Lower starting pay at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →