by our College Data Analytics TeamDive deep into history with a major in Classical and Ancient Studies. Explore past languages, history, art, and religion as you study both Western and non-Western cultures. Your coursework will involve decoding writing, looking at archaeology, and analyzing population changes. Some of the classes you will take include: archeology, ancient languages, history, art history, geography, religious studies, population studies, and environmental studies.
Some colleges have the opportunity to choose a concentration in the major. These include subjects like Ancient Civilizations or Archaeology and Classical Studies.
A degree in Classical & Ancient Studies explores Classical And Ancient Studies. Read on to learn the key facts every classical & ancient studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering classical & ancient studies programs.
In the U.S., classical & ancient studies is a popular field of study, with 330 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Classical & Ancient Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 57 schools to determine the best overall colleges for classical & ancient studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of classical & ancient studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Classical & Ancient Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations classical & ancient studies graduates commonly enter.
Prospective students should love to read and explore history. Your reading lists will include an endless number of two to three thousand year old texts. These primary sources will help you better understand the cultures and regions of the past. You must be able to absorb and retain vast amounts of information and connect ideas between various subjects. Students are expected to write in-depth research papers and make class presentations.
Part of this major is studying populations and analyzing information from the lab. Observation and attention to detail will help you catch important details. Creative thinking will help you begin to piece together the mysterious past world.
Skills emphasized by a classical & ancient studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a classical & ancient studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several classical & ancient studies 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 | 270 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 43 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17 |
People currently working in careers related to classical & ancient studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.5% |
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in classical & ancient studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Classical and Ancient Studies allows you to go into various fields. Graduates may pursue careers as anthropologists, archaeologists, or historians. Competition may be fierce in this field. For those interested in other fields, grads are also successful in law, medicine, journalism, or business. These fields may require you to receive an advanced degree.
Studying classical & ancient studies can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to classical & ancient studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to classical & ancient studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | 12,925 | 12.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of classical & ancient studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $34,228 |
| 5 years | $48,797 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for classical & ancient studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers classical & ancient studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $51,341 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
With 57 different classical & ancient studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased classical & ancient studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering classical & ancient studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology | 170 |
| Ancient Studies/Civilization | 157 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies, Other | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
