100 Best colleges for Anthropology in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Anthropology. A graph of 32.9M citations received by 954K academic papers made by 1,002 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Anthropology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Anthropology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Anthropology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

4. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

5. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Anthropology

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

6. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Anthropology

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Anthropology

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Anthropology

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Anthropology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Anthropology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

11. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Anthropology

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

12. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Anthropology

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Anthropology

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Anthropology

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

15. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Anthropology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Anthropology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Anthropology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

18. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Anthropology

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

19. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Anthropology

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

21. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Anthropology

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Anthropology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

23. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Anthropology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

24. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Anthropology

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Anthropology

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

26. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Anthropology

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

27. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Anthropology

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

28. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Anthropology

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

29. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Anthropology

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Anthropology

#34 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

31. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Anthropology

#35 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Anthropology

#36 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

33. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Anthropology

#38 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Anthropology

#39 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

35. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Anthropology

#40 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

36. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Anthropology

#41 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

37. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Anthropology

#42 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

38. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Anthropology

#44 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Anthropology

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Anthropology

#46 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

41. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#47 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Anthropology

#49 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

43. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Anthropology

#50 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

44. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Anthropology

#51 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

45. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Anthropology

#53 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

46. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Anthropology

#54 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

47. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Anthropology

#55 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

48. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Anthropology

#57 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

49. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Anthropology

#58 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Anthropology

#59 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

51. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Anthropology

#61 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

52. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Anthropology

#62 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Anthropology

#63 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

54. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Anthropology

#64 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

55. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Anthropology

#65 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

56. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Anthropology

#66 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Anthropology

#67 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Anthropology

#68 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

59. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Anthropology

#69 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Anthropology

#70 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

61. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Anthropology

#71 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

62. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Anthropology

#72 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

63. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Anthropology

#73 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

64. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Anthropology

#74 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

65. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Anthropology

#75 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Anthropology

#76 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

67. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Anthropology

#77 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Anthropology

#78 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Anthropology

#79 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

70. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Anthropology

#82 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

71. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Anthropology

#83 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

72. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Anthropology

#85 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

73. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Anthropology

#86 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

74. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Anthropology

#87 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Anthropology

#88 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

76. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Anthropology

#89 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Anthropology

#90 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

78. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Anthropology

#91 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

79. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Anthropology

#92 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

80. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Anthropology

#93 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

81. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Anthropology

#94 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

82. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Anthropology

#95 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

83. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Anthropology

#98 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#100 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

85. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Anthropology

#101 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

86. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Anthropology

#102 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

87. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Anthropology

#103 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

88. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Anthropology

#104 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

89. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Anthropology

#106 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

90. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Anthropology

#107 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

91. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Anthropology

#108 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

92. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Anthropology

#109 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

93. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Anthropology

#110 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

94. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Anthropology

#111 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

95. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#112 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

96. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Anthropology

#113 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

97. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Anthropology

#114 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

98. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Anthropology

#115 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

99. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Anthropology

#116 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

100. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Anthropology

#117 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

The best cities to study Anthropology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ann Arbor, Cambridge, Seattle, and Los Angeles.