100 Best colleges for Anthropology in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 31M citations received by 929K academic papers made by 993 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

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Anthropology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Anthropology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

4. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

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: $17,998

6. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Anthropology

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Anthropology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Anthropology

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Anthropology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Anthropology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

11. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Anthropology

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Anthropology

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

13. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Anthropology

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

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: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

15. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Anthropology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Anthropology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Anthropology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
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: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

19. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Anthropology

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Anthropology

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Anthropology

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

22. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Anthropology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

23. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Anthropology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

24. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Anthropology

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

25. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Anthropology

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

26. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Anthropology

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

27. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Anthropology

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

28. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Anthropology

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

29. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Anthropology

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

30. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Anthropology

#34 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

31. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Anthropology

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Anthropology

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

33. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Anthropology

#38 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

34. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Anthropology

#39 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

35. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Anthropology

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

36. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Anthropology

#41 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

37. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Anthropology

#42 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

38. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Anthropology

#43 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Anthropology

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
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: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

41. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#47 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Anthropology

#49 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

43. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Anthropology

#50 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

44. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Anthropology

#51 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

45. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Anthropology

#52 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

46. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Anthropology

#54 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

47. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Anthropology

#55 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

48. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Anthropology

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

49. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Anthropology

#58 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Anthropology

#59 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

51. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Anthropology

#61 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

52. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Anthropology

#62 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 79%

53. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Anthropology

#63 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

54. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Anthropology

#64 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

55. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Anthropology

#65 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

56. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Anthropology

#66 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

57. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Anthropology

#67 in North America

#128 in the World

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

58. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Anthropology

#68 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

59. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Anthropology

#69 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Anthropology

#70 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

61. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Anthropology

#71 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

62. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Anthropology

#72 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Anthropology

#73 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

64. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Anthropology

#74 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

65. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Anthropology

#75 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

66. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Anthropology

#76 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

67. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Anthropology

#77 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Anthropology

#78 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
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: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

70. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Anthropology

#82 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

71. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Anthropology

#83 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

72. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Anthropology

#84 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

73. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Anthropology

#85 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

74. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Anthropology

#86 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

75. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Anthropology

#87 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

76. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Anthropology

#88 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Anthropology

#89 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

78. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Anthropology

#90 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

79. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Anthropology

#91 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

80. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Anthropology

#92 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

81. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Anthropology

#93 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

82. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Anthropology

#95 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

83. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Anthropology

#98 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

84. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#99 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

85. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Anthropology

#101 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

86. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Anthropology

#102 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

87. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Anthropology

#103 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

88. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Anthropology

#104 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Anthropology

#105 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

90. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Anthropology

#106 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Anthropology

#108 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

92. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Anthropology

#109 in North America

#208 in the World

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

93. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Anthropology

#110 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

94. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Anthropology

#111 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Anthropology

#112 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

96. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Anthropology

#113 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

97. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Anthropology

#114 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 91%

98. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Anthropology

#115 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

99. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Anthropology

#116 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

100. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Anthropology

#117 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

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.