by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics explores Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Literary Culture Of The Ancient Graeco-Roman World And The Greek And Latin Languages And Literatures And Their Development Prior To The Fall Of The Roman Empire. Read on to learn the important information every general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs.
Nationwide, general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics is a widely-pursued major, with 1,204 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking analyzes these 195 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs later in this article.
Studies in General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 959 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 166 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 79 |
People currently working in careers related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 4 years | $39,272 |
| 5 years | $47,653 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 195 different general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 88 |
| Latin Language and Literature | 54 |
| Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature | 39 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
