by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Medical Anthropology covers Medical Anthropology. A Program That Focuses On Biological, Socio-Cultural, Psychological, And Behavioral Factors As They Relate To Health, Illness, Medical Practices, And Access To Health Care Services. Includes Instruction In Ethno-Medicine, Urban Health, International Health, Psychiatric And Psychological Anthropology, Aging, And Health And Identity. Continue reading for the important information every medical anthropology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical anthropology programs.
Nationwide, medical anthropology draws strong interest, with 347 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical Anthropology Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical anthropology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical anthropology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Medical Anthropology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical anthropology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a medical anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a medical anthropology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical anthropology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 251 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 94 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to medical anthropology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.8% |
| Master’s degree | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical anthropology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in medical anthropology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to medical anthropology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical anthropology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of medical anthropology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,017 |
| 4 years | $40,107 |
| 5 years | $48,105 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical anthropology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical anthropology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
With 13 different medical anthropology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical anthropology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in medical anthropology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Anthropology, General | 10,087 |
| Anthropology, Other | 150 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 79 |
| Forensic Anthropology | 62 |
| Physical and Biological Anthropology | 43 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
