WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-10% vs national median40 grads tracked

Anthropology at Western Illinois University

Ranked 117th of 143 bachelor's programs in Anthropology by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$27,814
middle 50%: $22,038 – $40,342
Median · 5 years out
$43,047
middle 50%: $27,237 – $63,346
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Anthropology (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Anthropology earn a median $27,814 one year after graduating, rising to $43,047 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 10% below the national median of $47,878 for this field, ranking 117th of 143 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
10.8 yrs
≈ $12,854 total interest

Same major at other universities

Minnesota State University Moorhead
$43,384 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$43,384 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$43,331 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$43,293 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$43,197 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$43,140 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$42,834 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$42,789 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$42,746 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$42,461 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$42,458 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$42,325 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Archeology
Compare universities
Criminology
Compare universities
Economics
Compare universities
Geography and Cartography
Compare universities
International Relations and National Security Studies
Compare universities
Political Science and Government
Compare universities