Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $56,550 put Southern Methodist University's Anthropology program 101% above the national median of $28,155 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
At 2.2x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.
The 11% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Anthropology career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $56,550 far exceeding the $23,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #12 of 178 programs, this Anthropology program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.
A 21% earnings increase from $56,550 to $68,161 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.