Archeology: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 1 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Archeology pays
Career outlook for Archeology graduates
The job market for the occupations Archeology graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | 1,333,700 | +4.5% | $136,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| Anthropologists and archeologists | 8,800 | +3.7% | $64,910 | Master's degree |
| Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary | 6,500 | +2.7% | $95,770 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Archeology vs similar majors
How Archeology stacks up against the closest fields in Social Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Archeology Social Sciences · this major | Economics | International Relations and National Security Studies | Urban Studies/Affairs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 21 F | 88 A | 74 B | 64 C |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $41,084 | $84,830 | $72,857 | $66,845 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $29,547 | $55,377 | $47,208 | $45,013 |
| ROI vs cost | -149% | +400% | +239% | +173% |
| Typical debt | $20,475 | $21,120 | $28,128 | $21,781 |
| Colleges offering it | 1 | 371 | 145 | 33 |
Archeology earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Archeology
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI | Associate's | $41,084 | $20,475 | -198% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.