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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Anthropology Schools in North Carolina

12 Colleges in the United States
314 Anthropology Degrees Awarded
$28,963 Avg Early-Career Salary

Anthropology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for anthropology students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Anthropology in North Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Anthropology

1

Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in anthropology. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 75 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $36,211 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,982 to complete this degree. Get the full anthropology details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in anthropology, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 17 anthropology degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $43,924 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. See the full anthropology program report for Duke University

3

A rank of #3 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top schools for anthropology. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 36 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $29,518 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full anthropology details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

4

Students looking for a strong anthropology program will find one at Appalachian State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 44 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $19,624. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full anthropology program report for Appalachian State University

5

Western Carolina University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in anthropology, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Carolina University awarded about 32 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from Western Carolina University earn around $28,262 in the first couple years of their career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $22,595 in student loans. Read more about the anthropology program at Western Carolina University

6

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #6 position for anthropology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 anthropology students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $25,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,112 to complete this degree. See the full anthropology program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

7

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #7 for anthropology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 34 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $27,805 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in anthropology from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

8

East Carolina University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. East Carolina University awarded about 34 anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the anthropology program make about $24,228 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the anthropology program at East Carolina University

9

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best anthropology schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. About 14 anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Students who receive their anthropology degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $25,901 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in anthropology from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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