Best institutions to study Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
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.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 31 Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.1202, a specialization of Classics and Classical Languages (CIP 16.12), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature programs
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. Includes instruction in philology, Attic and Hellenistic dialects, Koine (Biblical) Greek, and Medieval or Byzantine Greek.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature program focuses on the study of the Greek language and its literature from its origins until the fall of the Byzantine Empire. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring Greek texts, both secular and theological, and understanding the cultural and historical context of ancient Greece and its language.
Students in this program will gain proficiency in various Greek dialects, including Attic, Hellenistic, Koine (Biblical) Greek, and Medieval or Byzantine Greek. Coursework emphasizes skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication, essential for translating and interpreting ancient texts.
Credentials awarded
What Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree19 graduates / yr · 12 institutions61%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions19%
- Master's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.7%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.5%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.2%
Graduates over time
Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 31 |
Top 16 institutions for Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 65% | $28,911 |
| 2 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor's | 4 | 81% | — |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 4 | 80% | — |
| 4 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 4 | 93% | — |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 68% | — |
| 6 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 92% | $18,174 |
| 7 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 95% | $19,452 |
| 8 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $22,906 |
| 9 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 94% | $23,570 |
| 10 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 90% | — |
| 11 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 75% | — |
| 12 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 81% | $28,313 |
| 13 | Houston Christian University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 49% | $21,247 |
| 14 | Randolph - Macon College Ashland, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 70% | $26,498 |
| 15 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 85% | $24,049 |
| 16 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 85% | — |
Offered in 11 states
Where Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all Classics and Classical Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 3 | 7 | Liberty University5 / yr |
| Indiana | 2 | 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington4 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 5 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor4 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 4 | University of Delaware4 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 2 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus1 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Swarthmore College2 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1 | Loyola University New Orleans1 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Tufts University1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Houston Christian University1 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with additional opportunities in education as secondary school teachers or postsecondary foreign language instructors. The job outlook for interpreters and translators 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
Career pathways for CIP 16.1202
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interpreters and Translatorsprimary SOC 27-3091 | $60,170 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~6,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1124 | $79,350 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Classics and Classical Languages specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Classics and Classical Languages (CIP 16.12).
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or language teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature?+
Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature is CIP 16.1202 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Classics and Classical Languages (CIP 16.12). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in philology, Attic and Hellenistic dialects, Koine (Biblical) Greek, and Medieval or Byzantine Greek.
How many institutions offer Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 31 credentials in the year. That is 2.7% of all Classics and Classical Languages graduates.
How much do Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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