by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Archaeology & Classical Studies involves the study of Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, And Near Eastern Studies And Archaeology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Classical Ancient Civilizations Of The Ancient Near East, Europe, And The Mediterranean Sea, Such As Athens, Anatolia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Mesopotamia, North Africa, And Rome. Includes Instruction In Ancient Languages, Ancient History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Greek And Roman Mythology, Philosophy, And Religion. Examples: [Ancient Mediterranean Studies]. Read on to learn the essential details every archaeology & classical studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering archaeology & classical studies programs.
Nationwide, archaeology & classical studies draws strong interest, with 170 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for archaeology & classical studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of archaeology & classical studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Archaeology & Classical Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations archaeology & classical studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a archaeology & classical studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a archaeology & classical studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several archaeology & classical 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 | 131 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to archaeology & classical studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.6% |
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.8% |
| 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 archaeology & classical studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in archaeology & classical studies opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to archaeology & classical studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to archaeology & classical 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of archaeology & classical studies 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 archaeology & classical studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers archaeology & classical studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $51,341 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
With 33 different archaeology & classical studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased archaeology & classical studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering archaeology & classical studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ancient Studies/Civilization | 157 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
