Anthropology graduates from California State University-Los Angeles earn $53,441 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $54,074.
Anthropology at California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Anthropology at California State University-Los Angeles
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for California State University-Los Angeles and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Anthropology at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 13 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at California State University-Los Angeles, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $53,441 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $42,240 across all institutions offering Anthropology, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at California State University-Los Angeles, the mean median-earnings figure is $64,627, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Anthropology graduates at California State University-Los Angeles is $54,074, which translates to roughly $451 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.01 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Anthropology at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Binghamton University | $60,382 | $41,000 |
| Northern Arizona University | $57,283 | — |
| California State University-Los Angeles (this school) | $53,441 | $54,074 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | $50,439 | — |
| Georgia State University | $46,511 | $32,250 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $42,682 | — |
| University of North Texas | $42,682 | — |
| American University | $41,034 | — |
| Monmouth University | $40,467 | — |
| University of Denver | $39,927 | — |
Other Programs at California State University-Los Angeles
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $137,184 | $20,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $126,611 | $34,322 |
| Civil Engineering | $120,651 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $118,058 | $24,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $116,182 | $12,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $104,208 | $20,500 |
| Computer Science | $104,192 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $102,715 | $80,626 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $101,094 | $40,968 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $96,014 | $14,500 |
View all 72 programs at California State University-Los Angeles →
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.