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Principal archaeologist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a principal archaeologist. Principal archaeologists usually study anthropology, historic preservation and conservation, or engineering. 57% of principal archaeologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 43% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 19 real principal archaeologist resumes to see exactly what principal archaeologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for principal archaeologists are the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Austin.

There are also many online principal archaeologist courses to help get the education required to be a principal archaeologist.

What education do you need to become a principal archaeologist?

What degree do you need to be a principal archaeologist?

  • Bachelor's, 57%
  • Master's, 43%

What should I major in to become a principal archaeologist?

You should major in anthropology to become a principal archaeologist. 75% of principal archaeologists major in anthropology. Other common majors for a principal archaeologist include historic preservation and conservation and engineering.

Most common colleges for principal archaeologists

Principal archaeologists often get their degrees at University of Texas at Austin, Temple University, and San Diego State University. Here are the most common colleges for principal archaeologists in the US based on their resumes.
Principal archaeologist common collegePercentages
University of Texas at Austin11.11%
Temple University11.11%
San Diego State University11.11%
Sonoma State University11.11%
Eastern New Mexico University11.11%

Best majors for principal archaeologists

RankMajorPercentages
1Anthropology75.0%
2Historic Preservation And Conservation8.3%
3Engineering8.3%
4Geography8.3%

Best colleges for principal archaeologists

The best colleges for principal archaeologists are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

A principal archaeologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for principal archaeologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become principal archaeologists.

1. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

2. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

In-state tuition

$55,453

Enrollment

4,312

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

5. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

6. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

20 best online courses for principal archaeologists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for principal archaeologists

The most affordable schools for principal archaeologists are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and university of south florida.

If the best universities for principal archaeologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for principal archaeologists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

5. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for principal archaeologists

The hardest universities for principal archaeologists to get into are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for principal archaeologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for principal archaeologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,488

5. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for principal archaeologists

The easiest schools for principal archaeologists to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, saint joseph's college of maine, and pennsylvania state university - dubois.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a principal archaeologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for principal archaeologists.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

3. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

4. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

8. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

9. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

10. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

Average principal archaeologist salary by education level

Principal archaeologists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $62,294 annually. With a Master's degree, principal archaeologists earn a median annual income of $59,507 compared to $50,670 for principal archaeologists with an Bachelor's degree.
Principal archaeologist education levelPrincipal archaeologist salary
Master's Degree$59,507
Bachelor's Degree$50,670
Doctorate Degree$62,294

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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