2026 Best Value Anthropology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Anthropology associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 597 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Anthropology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Santa Rosa Junior College to be the best-value Anthropology school in the United States. Located in Santa Rosa, CA, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Santa Rosa Junior College Anthropology students take on a median of $14,692 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Santa Rosa Junior College report
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Anthropology ranking in the United States. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical Anthropology student debt is $10,112. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,869. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt. Read the full report on Central New Mexico Community College
You'll get strong value at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #3 this year. College Of Western Idaho is a public school based in Nampa, ID. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. College Of Western Idaho Anthropology students take on a median of $12,497 in debt. Get the full College Of Western Idaho report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Butte College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Located in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Butte College Anthropology students take on a median of $13,302 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,810. That is a strong return on a $13,302 median debt. Read the full report on Butte College
You'll get strong value at East Los Angeles College, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Monterey Park, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete their Anthropology program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,006. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
American River College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. American River College Anthropology students take on a median of $14,105 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,162 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. Read more about American River College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public school based in San Jacinto, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,728. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete their Anthropology program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,319. That is a strong return on a $8,770 median debt. Read more about Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Antelope Valley College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,548. Graduates carry a median of $10,729 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Antelope Valley College
Alma College
Alma College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Alma College
Humboldt State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. More on Humboldt State University
Lansing Community College placed #11 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. See the full Lansing Community College profile
Suny College At Potsdam offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. See the full Suny College At Potsdam profile
University Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about University Of Florida
University Of South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. See the full University Of South Dakota profile
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. See the full California State Polytechnic University Pomona profile
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Ohio University Chillicothe Campus report
East Tennessee State University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. See the full East Tennessee State University profile
Southeast Missouri State University placed #18 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Get the full Southeast Missouri State University report
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. Read more about University Of Minnesota Duluth
De Anza College
De Anza College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. More on De Anza College
Illinois State University placed #21 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Get the full Illinois State University report
Butler University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Butler University report
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on Franciscan University Of Steubenville
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Arlington
Western Oregon University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. See the full Western Oregon University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Anthropology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
California State University Fresno came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. More on California State University Fresno
Los Angeles Valley College placed #27 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. More on Los Angeles Valley College
Saddleback College placed #28 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Read more about Saddleback College
University Of Oregon came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Oregon
Miracosta College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Miracosta College
Northern Kentucky University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northern Kentucky University
Rio Hondo College placed #32 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Read more about Rio Hondo College
Stonehill College landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stonehill College report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Weber State University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Weber State University profile
Saint John Fisher College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Saint John Fisher College
Skyline College
Skyline College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Skyline College
Solano Community College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Solano Community College
University Of Maine placed #39 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maine report
Oklahoma Baptist University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. More on Oklahoma Baptist University
San Antonio College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. More on San Antonio College
San Diego Mesa College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full San Diego Mesa College profile
Central Michigan University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Central Michigan University
Eastern Connecticut State University placed #44 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. Read more about Eastern Connecticut State University
Hofstra University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. More on Hofstra University
University At Buffalo landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University At Buffalo profile
University Of Houston came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Houston
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about College Of Southern Nevada
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #49 among the best-value Anthropology schools in the United States. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
University Of California Berkeley ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Anthropology schools. More on University Of California Berkeley
Related Anthropology Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Anthropology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Anthropology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Anthropology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Anthropology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Anthropology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Anthropology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 597 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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