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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Washington

5 Colleges in the United States
$18,504 Avg Student Debt
$67,822 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Anthropology Badge [Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for anthropology students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Washington

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Anthropology Schools

1

For return on investment in anthropology, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $12,000. Anthropology graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $32,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington State University earned it the #2 place for anthropology. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $25,519. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.

3

Central Washington University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value anthropology schools. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $20,318. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.

4

Western Washington University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $22,000. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $27,851. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.

5
Whitman College crest
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA

A rank of #5 makes Whitman College one of the best values for anthropology. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,050. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of Whitman College earn a median of $32,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,518 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 9 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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