by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Ancient Studies/Civilization involves the study of Ancient Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On Western And Non-Western Cultures And Related Topics In The Periods Of Pre-History And Antiquity. Includes Such Disciplines As Ancient Languages, Archeology, History, Art History, Geography, Population Studies, Environmental Studies, Religious Studies, And The Social Sciences. Read on to learn the important information every ancient studies/civilization student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ancient studies/civilization programs.
Nationwide, ancient studies/civilization is a popular field of study, with 157 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ancient Studies/Civilization Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ancient studies/civilization students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ancient studies/civilization programs later in this article.
Programs in Ancient Studies/Civilization build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ancient studies/civilization graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a ancient studies/civilization program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a ancient studies/civilization major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ancient studies/civilization 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 | 136 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12 |
People currently working in careers related to ancient studies/civilization 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ancient studies/civilization careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in ancient studies/civilization opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to ancient studies/civilization.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ancient studies/civilization.
| 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 ancient studies/civilization graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 ancient studies/civilization graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ancient studies/civilization 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 27 different ancient studies/civilization programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ancient studies/civilization school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in ancient studies/civilization, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology | 170 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
