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Anthropology at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,221/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #115 of 178 Anthropology programs

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	$484K	$484K	$455K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	11.0x	10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.7x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	41%	30%
DegreeOutlook Score	32	31	28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,856

Out-of-state: $131,708 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,592

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

10.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$42,460

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Iowa's Anthropology program produces graduates earning $27,221/yr — within striking distance of the $28,155 national average for this field.

The 11.0x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$27,221 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #115 out of 178 programs, University of Iowa's financial outcomes for Anthropology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $27,221 to $42,460 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Iowa

A 85% acceptance rate means University of Iowa is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,691 in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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 University of Iowa

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

How does University of Iowa's Anthropology program score?

This program scores 31/100 — 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.

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