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Anthropology at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,178/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)

ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #61 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	$553K	$549K	$502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.7x	10.6x	9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	36	32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,584

Out-of-state: $135,004 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,328

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

9.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,109

92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,178/yr, roughly in line with the $28,155 national median for Anthropology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $27,178 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #61 of 178 Anthropology programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $52,109 show a 92% jump from the $27,178 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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

Other Majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Anthropology at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

A score of 36/100 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 $501,972 in decade earnings vs $553,377 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →