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Anthropology at CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,917/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (121,600 openings/yr)
ROI 20.1x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #21 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 25%

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 $617K $607K $544K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.5x 20.1x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.0x 9.8x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 44% 41% 30%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,152
Out-of-state: $61,952 (9.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$15,320
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,421
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,381
146% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,917 place CUNY Queens College below the $28,155 national median for Anthropology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 20.1x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $13,421 debt-to-$22,917 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #21 out of 178 programs, CUNY Queens College's Anthropology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $22,917 to $56,381 over five years (146% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About CUNY Queens College

A 69% admission rate makes CUNY Queens College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 13,060 students in Queens, NY. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $15,320 over four years — 49% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Queens College →

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 CUNY Queens College

Computer Science ($63,632) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($58,894) Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language ($48,923) Finance and Financial Management Services ($45,168) Accounting and Related Services ($45,158) Urban Studies/Affairs ($42,995) Economics ($39,377) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($37,654)

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 CUNY Queens College's Anthropology program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 does CUNY Queens College rank so high for Anthropology?
The #21 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Why are Anthropology earnings lower at CUNY Queens College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY Queens College 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 →