Best institutions to study Classics and Classical Languages
Compare 194 U.S. colleges offering Classics and Classical Languages by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 45 states.
About Classics and Classical Languages programs
The Classics and Classical Languages program, also known as classical studies, focuses on the study of classical antiquity, primarily ancient Greek and Roman literature and languages, such as Ancient Greek and Latin. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring the cultural, philosophical, and historical contexts of the ancient world through various disciplines, including literature, history, and art.
Students in this program develop essential skills in speaking, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. Coursework often includes translation, analysis of classical texts, and the study of related fields such as archaeology and mythology, equipping graduates with a well-rounded understanding of classical languages and cultures.
Top 194 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
Offered across 45 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 13 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Connecticut | 4 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 1 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Florida | 7 | — | — |
| Georgia | 4 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinois | 6 | — | — |
| Indiana | 7 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 2 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 2 | — | — |
| Maryland | 3 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 14 | — | — |
| Michigan | 5 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 4 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Missouri | 4 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Hampshire | 3 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 3 | — | — |
| New York | 16 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 7 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohio | 14 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oregon | 3 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 4 | — | — |
| Texas | 9 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Virginia | 9 | — | — |
| Washington | 3 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | 6 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Classics and Classical Languages program can pursue various careers that may involve translation, education, or research. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 6,900 positions and a median wage of $59,440, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Classics and Classical Languages
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 16.12.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 16.12 (Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1124 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 27-3091 | Interpreters and Translatorsprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Classics and Classical Languages programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
Concentrations within Classics and Classical Languages
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, GeneralCIP 16.1200
A general program that focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
- Ancient/Classical Greek Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1202
A program that focuses on the Greek language and literature from its origins through the fall of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, as a secular and/or theological subject
- Latin Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1203
A program that focuses on the Latin language and literature from its origins through its decline and its current ecclesiastical usage, as a secular and/or theological subject
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, OtherCIP 16.1299
Any instructional program in classics and classical languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Classics and Classical Languages program?+
The program focuses on the study of ancient Greek and Roman literature and languages, along with related fields like history and philosophy.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and translation.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in fields such as translation, education, and research, with various job openings in these areas.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440.
What is the CIP code for Classics and Classical Languages?+
Classics and Classical Languages maps to CIP 16.12 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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