Archaeology Degree in Rio Rancho, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Archaeology degree analysis for Rio Rancho, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
93.8
index (100 = avg)
Archaeology in Rio Rancho, NM Overview
While Rio Rancho has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Archaeology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,400/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Archaeology has been declining, graduates with skills in Excavation and Artifact Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Rio Rancho is approximately $46,900.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$7,700/yr
Private Tuition
$20,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,400/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,427/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
48%
Archaeology Salary in Rio Rancho (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rio Rancho's cost of living index of 93.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Archaeology salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Rio Rancho adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Archaeology ROI Calculator for Rio Rancho
Estimate your return on investment for a Archaeology degree using local Rio Rancho tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,700 | Private avg: $20,000
Rio Rancho avg aid: $13,427/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,400
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,070
vs HS diploma in Rio Rancho
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rio Rancho
$84,440
Lifetime earnings premium ($168,840) minus total education cost ($84,400)
Student Loan Payoff for Archaeology in Rio Rancho
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rio Rancho for Archaeology
Rio Rancho State University
public
$7,689/yr
$30,756 total
University of Rio Rancho
public
$7,258/yr
$29,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Rancho Community College
$5,103/yr
Top Employers for Archaeology in Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Archaeology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rio Rancho Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Archaeology Job Titles
Archaeology in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Social Sciences Majors in Rio Rancho
International Relations
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$47K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$47K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Archaeology Degree in Rio Rancho — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Archaeology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Rio Rancho.