Anthropology at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,460/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 10%

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 $511K $510K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.8x 16.8x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.5x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 44% 41% 30%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,680
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Sacramento's Anthropology graduates start at $32,460/yr — above the $28,155 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $32,460 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #11 of 178 programs, California State University-Sacramento's Anthropology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $32,460 to $48,680 over five years — a 50% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Sacramento is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 27,867 students in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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

Anthropology at Other Schools

Compare Anthropology

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Anthropology at California State University-Sacramento?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Anthropology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Anthropology careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $473,560 in decade earnings vs $511,116 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →