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Cheapest Anthropology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas stands out with an extraordinary net cost of just $1,113 for anthropology students, making it the most affordable option by a significant margin. The next closest program costs $2,446 at CUNY Hunter College, creating an unusual gap of over $1,300 between the top two choices. Most affordable anthropology programs cluster in California and New York, where state university systems offer consistent access to the field. The Southwest region, including Texas, benefits from growing cultural resource management opportunities driven by energy sector development and federal land management needs. CUNY schools dominate the middle tier with net costs between $2,446 and $4,734, while California State University campuses generally fall in the $3,659 to $5,671 range. Earnings data reveals considerable variation, with CUNY Lehman College graduates earning $38,289 compared to $25,194 at Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Stanislaus. Graduation rates also span a wide range, from 20% at Ohio University-Eastern Campus to 77.7% at University of Florida-Online, suggesting that affordability doesn't always correlate with completion success.
50
Programs
$1,113 – $10,555
Net Price Range
$26,559
Avg. Program Earnings
51.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Anthropology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
2 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
3 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
4 $3,046 $7,470 55.5% 50.7%
5 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
6 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
7 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
8 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
9 $4,113 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
10 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
11 $4,702 $3,876 77.7% 64.6%
12 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
13 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
14 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
15 $5,671 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
16 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
17 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
18 $5,970 $8,179 36.9% 80.3%
19 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
20 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
21 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
22 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
23 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
24 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
25 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
26 $6,507 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
27 $6,602 $37,143 26.3% 83.0%
28 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
29 $7,168 $10,896 48.3% 86.0%
30 $7,599 $7,095 56.2% 91.2%
31 $8,001 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
32 $8,155 $6,360 61.8% 48.0%
33 $8,327 $8,942 48.7% 96.9%
34 $8,364 $8,179 35.7% 86.9%
35 $8,463 $6,270 40.7%
36 $8,896 $17,462 59.5% 97.9%
37 $8,931 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
38 $9,110 $14,288 61.9% 77.7%
39 $9,424 $6,110 42.1%
40 $9,634 $8,640 36.7%
41 $9,792 $6,817 53.5% 89.7%
42 $9,962 $10,130 49.7% 64.3%
43 $10,011 $9,142 50.1% 85.3%
44 $10,043 $6,410 74.6% 43.9%
45 $10,170 $7,593 57.9% 91.9%
46 $10,319 $6,118 56.0% 74.4%
47 $10,353 $6,389 68.2% 70.5%
48 $10,512 $7,602 55.8% 93.2%
49 $10,550 $7,739 54.2% 95.2%
50 $10,555 $59,710 97.1% 5.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Texas A&M University-Central Texas so much cheaper than other anthropology programs?

Texas A&M-Central Texas offers an strong net cost of $1,113, more than $1,300 lower than the second-cheapest option. The university serves a specific regional population in Killeen and maintains a 95.71% acceptance rate. As a relatively newer institution focused on upper-level and graduate students, it operates with lower overhead costs while leveraging the broader Texas A&M system resources.

How do CUNY anthropology programs compare in terms of value?

CUNY schools occupy six of the top 12 most affordable spots, with net costs ranging from $2,446 at Hunter College to $4,734 at York College. Hunter College graduates earn $33,565 with only $8,772 in debt, while Lehman College graduates earn the highest among all schools at $38,289. Graduation rates vary significantly across CUNY campuses, from 30.3% at York College to 61% at Hunter College.

Is online anthropology education a cost-effective option?

University of Florida-Online presents an interesting case with a $4,702 net cost and the highest graduation rate at 77.7%. However, graduates earn just $25,870, among the lower earnings in the dataset, with $14,491 in student debt. The program maintains a 64.64% acceptance rate and benefits from Florida's in-state tuition of only $3,876.

Does location significantly impact anthropology program affordability?

Geography plays a major role, with New York and California dominating the affordable options through their state university systems. Ohio University's regional campuses offer very low net costs but struggle with graduation rates below 21%. California State schools generally cost between $3,659 and $5,671, while maintaining acceptance rates above 66% and graduation rates that vary widely from 47% to 69%.

What earning potential can graduates expect from these affordable programs?

Earnings range from $25,194 to $38,289 across programs with available data. CUNY Lehman College leads with $38,289, followed by Hunter College at $33,565 and Cal State Dominguez Hills at $33,281. The lowest earnings come from Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Stanislaus at $25,194 each. Student debt levels vary from $8,772 at Hunter College to $25,000 at Ohio University regional campuses.

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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.