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Anthropology at SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $32,493/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #9 of 178 Anthropology programs Top 5%

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	$538K	$534K	$492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.3x	15.2x	13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.0x	6.9x	6.4x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	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)

$35,248

Out-of-state: $76,928 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,332

-114% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,253

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,724

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,493 at SUNY Oneonta come in 15% above the national median of $28,155 for Anthropology programs.

The 15.2x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,253 debt-to-$32,493 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #9 out of 178 programs, SUNY Oneonta's Anthropology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $32,493 to $52,724 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,820 in Oneonta, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Oneonta →

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 SUNY Oneonta

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

How does SUNY Oneonta's Anthropology program score?

This program scores 45/100 — 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 SUNY Oneonta rank so high for Anthropology?

The #9 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.

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