Program Analysis
At $29,364/yr, Anthropology graduates from California State University-Los Angeles land near the $28,155 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Anthropology programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Anthropology's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $14,199 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #36 of 178 nationally, this is a top-5% Anthropology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $29,364 to $42,878 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.