by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Ancient Near Eastern & Biblical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics explores Ancient Near Eastern And Biblical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. A Program That Focuses On One Or More Of The Extinct Semitic And/or Non-Semitic Languages Spoken In The Ancient Near East, Including Those Used To Write Historical Jewish And Christian Religious Texts. These Languages Include, But Are Not Limited To, Egyptian/coptic, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Cannanite, Phonecian, Samarian, Ugaritic, Syriac, Mandean, Hattic, Elamite, Hurrian, Hittite, Urartian, Lydian, Luwian, Lycian, Palaic, Sabaean/south Arabian, And Other Associated Languages. Includes Instruction In Philology, Epigraphy, Papyrology, Numismatics, And Textual Studies. Read on to learn the important information every ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs.
In the U.S., ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics is a popular field of study, with 69 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ancient Near Eastern & Biblical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs later in this article.
Studies in Ancient Near Eastern & Biblical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ancient near eastern & biblical 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 | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 39 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 21.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,355 |
| 4 years | $57,980 |
| 5 years | $73,123 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 17 different ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in ancient near eastern & biblical languages, literatures, & linguistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
