Career Outcomes

An undergraduate degree in anthropology offers students an intellectually rich and multidisciplinary educational experience, combining rigorous academic training and diverse research opportunities. Graduates emerge with a well-rounded skill set, equipped to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world, making them valuable contributors to fields such as international relations, cultural heritage preservation, social justice advocacy, non-profit management, economic development, global health, and more.

Career Resources

• Anthropology Careers, a comprehensive starting point from NKU
• Anthropologists on the Job, Christian Science Monitor
• Anthropologists Go Native in the Corporate Village, Fast Company
• Coming of Age in Palo Alto: Anthropologists Find a Niche Studying Consumers, The New York Times
• Hot Asset in Corporate: Anthropology Degrees, USA Today
• American Anthropological Association – Careers in Anthropology
• Chronicle of Higher Education

Career Survey

The Department of Anthropology conducted an anonymous survey of past graduates was conducted to learn about their career paths. The results showed that:

• 84.1% employed, 13.6% pursued a higher degree, 2.3% (1 person) seeking employment
• Annual salaries approximate the median income in the U.S., demonstrating that anthropology graduates secure competitive and desirable positions
• Almost all work outside of the anthropology field (the exceptions were a CRM archaeologist and an anthropology teacher); yet, half say that their job requires anthropology skills
• Graduates highlighted the following skills as being helpful in their careers:
  • Job-specific: e.g., physical anthropology for healthcare jobs
  • General skills: academic writing and speaking; critical thinking/scientific method; cultural sensitivity; understanding company cultures
• Almost all would major in anthropology again and would recommend it as a major to current students

Alumni Stories

Hear from five former anthropology majors who have gone to successful careers in diverse fields, including business consulting, law, environmental management, finance, business startups, and academia.