by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, physical and biological anthropology was the 1,109 most popular major nationwide with 50 degrees awarded. This represents a 12.0% increase in physical anthropology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 44.
Our 2023 Best Physical & Biological Anthropology Schools ranking analyzes 5 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical and biological anthropology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical anthropology programs later in this article.
A major in physical anthropology prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most physical anthropology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional physical anthropology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of physical anthropology degrees. You can get anything from a in physical and biological anthropology to the highest physical anthropology degree, a . Physical & Biological Anthropology programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to physical anthropology, with approximately 35.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for physical anthropology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 34.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 34.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 2.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.1% |
About 58.1% of workers in careers related to physical anthropology obtain at least master's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in physical and biological anthropology have received.
The education level required is different depending on the physical anthropology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your physical anthropology degree? Physical & Biological Anthropology careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical and biological anthropology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | 7,900 | 3.9% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Professors | 7,800 | 9.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for physical anthropology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for physical and biological anthropology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers physical anthropology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Professors | $94,080 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $65,310 |
With over 14 different physical anthropology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased physical anthropology school rankings to help you with this.
Physical & Biological Anthropology is one of 5 different types of Anthropology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Anthropology | 10,974 |
| Medical Anthropology | 169 |
| Other Anthropology | 119 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 80 |
| Forensic Anthropology | 23 |
