To date, we’ve asked 80 current and past anthropology students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

Majors can be changed, but why not start out with the right one.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a anthropology degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a anthropology degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are anthropology students compared to other degrees?

Overall, anthropology students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.6 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, anthropology students rate their happiness similarly to students in Spanish Language, English Language and Literature and English.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to anthropology

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Theology and Religious Vocations$49,171
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies$63,671
Spanish Language$56,250
Anthropology$51,663
English Language and Literature$61,883
English$63,523
International Relations$72,353

Let's break that down further.

Are anthropology students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.5 out of 5 stars
100 ratings
5 stars
57%
4 stars
36%
3 stars
5%
2 stars
1%
1 stars
0%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.3 out of 5 stars
102 ratings
5 stars
49%
4 stars
32%
3 stars
15%
2 stars
3%
1 stars
0%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in anthropology experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did anthropology graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what anthropology grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.5 out of 5 stars
100 ratings
5 stars
5%
4 stars
9%
3 stars
39%
2 stars
28%
1 stars
18%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were anthropology students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.6 out of 5 stars
80 ratings
5 stars
29%
4 stars
25%
3 stars
31%
2 stars
6%
1 stars
8%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

Read about Career Paths