Best institutions to study Ancient Studies/Civilization
A program that focuses on Western and Non-Western cultures and related topics in the periods of Pre-history and Antiquity.
27 U.S. institutions graduated 105 Ancient Studies/Civilization students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.2201, a specialization of Classical and Ancient Studies (CIP 30.22), and leads most directly to the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3091).
About Ancient Studies/Civilization programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ancient Studies/Civilization program, a part of Classical and Ancient Studies, delves into the rich tapestry of Western and Non-Western cultures from Pre-history to Antiquity. This interdisciplinary program incorporates various disciplines, allowing students to explore ancient languages, archaeology, history, art history, and more. It is designed for those passionate about understanding the complexities of ancient civilizations and their lasting impact on the modern world.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, writing, and effective communication. They gain knowledge in sociology, anthropology, history, and geography, engaging in coursework that emphasizes research methods and the analysis of cultural institutions.
Credentials awarded
What Ancient Studies/Civilization graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree81 graduates / yr · 24 institutions77%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 4 institutions14%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.0%
Graduates over time
Ancient Studies/Civilization completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 128 |
| 2013 | 117 |
| 2014 | 112 |
| 2015 | 96 |
| 2016 | 108 |
| 2017 | 100 |
| 2018 | 110 |
| 2019 | 110 |
| 2020 | 91 |
| 2021 | 94 |
| 2022 | 82 |
| 2023 | 89 |
| 2024 | 106 |
| 2025 | 105 |
Top 27 institutions for Ancient Studies/Civilization, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 75% | — | — |
| 2 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 3 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 12 | 93% | — | — |
| 4 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 9 | 83% | — | — |
| 5 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 92% | $19,292 | — |
| 6 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 93% | $24,675 | — |
| 7 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 8 | Bates College Lewiston, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 90% | $18,203 | — |
| 9 | St Olaf College Northfield, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 84% | $18,124 | — |
| 10 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 82% | $38,931 | — |
| 11 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 12 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 13 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicMaster's | 3 | 59% | — | — |
| 14 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 15 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 16 | Colby College Waterville, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 89% | $15,696 | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor's | 2 | 70% | — | — |
| 18 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 84% | $26,083 | — |
| 19 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 2 | 67% | — | $32,054 |
| 20 | Nelson University Waxahachie, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 42% | $19,790 | — |
| 21 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 85% | $24,049 | — |
| 22 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 79% | $36,488 | — |
| 23 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 63% | — | — |
| 24 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 25 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $29,107 | — |
| 26 | Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $18,325 | — |
| 27 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 68% | $24,409 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Classical and Ancient Studies field (CIP 30.22) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 19 states
Where Ancient Studies/Civilization graduates come from. Each state links to all Classical and Ancient Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 3 | 20 | Boston University13 / yr |
| New York | 5 | 16 | Barnard College5 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 13 | University of Iowa13 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 12 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor12 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 9 | Purdue University - Main Campus9 / yr |
| Maine | 2 | 6 | Bates College4 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 4 | University of Miami3 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 4 | St Olaf College4 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 3 | Washington University in St Louis3 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 3 | Utah State University3 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | Wesleyan University2 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | Emory University2 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 2 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County2 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln2 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 2 | Nelson University2 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 2 | University of Richmond2 / yr |
| California | 1 | 1 | Loyola Marymount University1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Ohio Wesleyan University1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Concordia University - Wisconsin1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Ancient Studies/Civilization program can pursue careers as anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and educators. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 800 annual openings. The median wage for related occupations is $64,910, with many positions requiring at least a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.2201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anthropologists and Archeologistsprimary SOC 19-3091 | $70,770 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~800 | Master's degree |
History Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1125 | $83,820 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1061 | $99,650 | +2.7% About as fast as average | ~500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Historians SOC 19-3093 | $76,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Ancient Studies/Civilization programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
Tools and technology used
Other Classical and Ancient Studies specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Classical and Ancient Studies (CIP 30.22).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Ancient Studies/Civilization.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an anthropologist, archaeologist, historian, or educator.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7%.
What is the CIP code for Ancient Studies/Civilization?+
Ancient Studies/Civilization is CIP 30.2201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Classical and Ancient Studies (CIP 30.22). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Ancient Studies/Civilization programs?+
27 U.S. institutions reported Ancient Studies/Civilization graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states, awarding 105 credentials in the year. That is 41.7% of all Classical and Ancient Studies graduates.
How much do Ancient Studies/Civilization graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation, which Ancient Studies/Civilization most directly leads to, pays a median of $70,770 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Classical and Ancient Studies field report median earnings of $32,054 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card