Archeology Colleges Under $20,000

Stanford University appears alongside CUNY Hunter College in a field where net costs vary by over $14,000 despite similar career outcomes. Students pursuing Archeology can access quality programs for as little as $2,446 at Hunter or $2,943 at Brooklyn College, while elite institutions like Harvard and Johns Hopkins require net payments exceeding $16,000. The field's consistent earnings of $24,201 across programs suggests that school prestige matters less than hands-on experience and fieldwork opportunities. National Park Service employment and cultural resource management firms increasingly seek graduates with strong field skills rather than expensive degrees. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with seven of the ten lowest-cost programs operating under state funding. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse provides the only available earnings data at $24,201, indicating realistic expectations for new graduates. Geographic location affects both program costs and internship access, as Western states offer more federal archaeology positions while East Coast programs connect students to museum networks.

Programs

$2,446 – $19,951

Net Price Range

$24,201

Avg. Program Earnings

74.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

20 Archeology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
4	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina	$12,983	$8,989	92.1%	17.1%
5	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
6	University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho	$13,782	$8,816	60.9%	73.9%
7	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295	$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
8	Brigham Young University Provo, Utah	$14,487	$6,496	82.2%	66.7%
9	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin	$15,374	$9,651	71.2%	74.3%
10	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
11	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$16,816	$59,076	97.3%	3.2%
12	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	$18,161	$63,340	94.6%	7.3%
13	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
14	Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania	$18,686	$62,412	94.1%	6.9%
15	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
16	Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania	$19,258	$47,675	59.6%	75.2%
17	College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina	$19,518	$12,978	65.0%	75.7%
18	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
19	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, Missouri	$19,889	$14,130	76.2%	79.1%
20	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $14,000 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive Archeology programs?

CUNY Hunter College charges just $2,446 net while Stanford requires $12,136, primarily due to public versus private funding structures. Public universities receive state subsidies that dramatically reduce student costs, especially for in-state residents who pay only $7,382 at Hunter. Private institutions like Stanford rely on tuition revenue and endowment income, resulting in sticker prices exceeding $60,000 before financial aid. The career outcomes remain similar regardless of institutional cost.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive Archeology programs?

Harvard achieves a 97.3% graduation rate at $16,816 net cost, while CUNY Hunter graduates 61% of students for $2,446. Stanford maintains 92.8% graduation rates despite its $12,136 price point, suggesting that selectivity rather than cost drives completion. SUNY Potsdam shows that affordable programs can struggle, graduating only 47.9% of students at $14,295 net cost. The University of Washington demonstrates strong public performance with 83.7% graduation rates at $13,485.

Is admission more competitive at expensive Archeology programs?

Stanford accepts just 3.68% of applicants while charging $12,136, compared to Western Washington University's 92.69% acceptance rate at $18,680. Harvard admits only 3.24% of students despite offering substantial financial aid that reduces costs to $16,816. CUNY Brooklyn College accepts 54.54% of applicants while maintaining costs under $3,000, proving that affordability doesn't require easy admission. The University of Idaho demonstrates that public universities can offer both accessibility and reasonable acceptance rates at 73.85%.

Does geographic location affect Archeology program costs significantly?

California universities show wide cost variation, with UC Santa Cruz at $16,607 and private Stanford at $12,136, both exceeding most public options. New York's CUNY system provides the nation's most affordable programs at Hunter ($2,446) and Brooklyn ($2,943). Washington state offers mid-range options with University of Washington at $13,485 and Western Washington at $18,680. Regional differences reflect state funding levels and local cost of living rather than program quality.

Where can students find Archeology programs under $15,000 annually?

Eight programs meet this threshold, led by CUNY Hunter at $2,446 and Brooklyn College at $2,943 in New York. The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill offers excellent value at $12,983 with a 92.1% graduation rate. University of Washington Seattle provides strong academics for $13,485, while University of Idaho keeps costs to $13,782. SUNY Potsdam rounds out the under-$15,000 options at $14,295, though its 47.9% graduation rate requires careful consideration.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.