Best Anthropology Schools in California

California has 27 colleges offering Anthropology programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,451 recent graduates. Graduates earn $26,677 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $25,966.

Schools in CA

$26,677

CA Avg. Earnings

$25,966

National Avg.

256

Schools Nationally

Anthropology Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$28,598

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,620

Graduates: 79

Acceptance: 11.7%

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$28,381

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,634

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 94.7%

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$31,762

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,390

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 96.2%

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$24,421

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,743

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 24.5%

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$30,277

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,992

Graduates: 69

Acceptance: 41.6%

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$27,639

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,935

Graduates: 95

Acceptance: 27.8%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$30,520

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,197

Graduates: 215

Acceptance: 8.7%

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,149

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 86.7%

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$20,140

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,106

Graduates: 60

Acceptance: 34.4%

#10

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$27,667

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,008

Graduates: 130

Acceptance: 62.5%

#11

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,787

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 93.1%

#12

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$25,967

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,030

Graduates: 86

Acceptance: 25.6%

#13

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,084

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 95.7%

#14

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$32,498

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,388

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 93.6%

#16

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$26,037

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,124

Graduates: 95

Acceptance: 47.1%

#17

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,942

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 97.5%

#18

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$23,571

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,074

Graduates: 122

Acceptance: 63.3%

#19

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,145

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 93.2%

#20

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$20,140

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,288

Graduates: 48

Acceptance: 93.7%

#21

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$21,166

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,538

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 98.8%

#22

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$33,459

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,762

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: N/A

#23

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,633

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 98.3%

#24

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$24,615

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,293

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 73.7%

#25

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$26,353

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,866

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 39.2%

#27

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,314

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 91.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Anthropology in California?

University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Anthropology in California with median graduate earnings of $28,598 within two years of graduation. There are 27 schools offering Anthropology programs in the state.

How much do Anthropology graduates earn in California?

Anthropology graduates in California earn an average of $26,677 within two years of graduation. This is 3% above the national average of $25,966 for this major.

What is the hardest Anthropology school to get into in California?

University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Anthropology program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Anthropology programs in the state is 68.5%.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Anthropology in Other States

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.