Best institutions to study Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
A program that focuses on one or more of the extinct Semitic and/or Non-Semitic languages spoken in the ancient Near East, including those used to write historical Jewish and Christian religious texts.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 65 Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.1103, a specialization of Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
A program that focuses on one or more of the extinct Semitic and/or Non-Semitic languages spoken in the ancient Near East, including those used to write historical Jewish and Christian religious texts. These languages include, but are not limited to, Egyptian/Coptic, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Cannanite, Phonecian, Samarian, Ugaritic, Syriac, Mandean, Hattic, Elamite, Hurrian, Hittite, Urartian, Lydian, Luwian, Lycian, Palaic, Sabaean/South Arabian, and other associated languages. Includes instruction in philology, epigraphy, papyrology, numismatics, and textual studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages program focuses on the study of extinct Semitic and Non-Semitic languages from the ancient Near East. This includes languages used in significant historical Jewish and Christian texts, such as Akkadian, Aramaic, and Ugaritic. The program is designed for students interested in linguistics, literature, and the cultural contexts of these ancient languages.
Students in this program will gain skills in philology, epigraphy, papyrology, and textual studies. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, reading comprehension, and active learning, equipping students with the ability to analyze and translate ancient texts effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree38 graduates / yr · 5 institutions59%
- Bachelor's degree27 graduates / yr · 5 institutions42%
Graduates over time
Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 69 |
| 2013 | 64 |
| 2014 | 72 |
| 2015 | 57 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 49 |
| 2020 | 44 |
| 2021 | 53 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 63 |
| 2025 | 65 |
Top 10 institutions for Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 27 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 81% | $13,712 | $48,355 |
| 3 | Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Houston Christian University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 49% | $21,247 | — |
| 5 | Concordia University - Irvine Irvine, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 58% | $26,609 | — |
| 6 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 68% | $24,409 | — |
| 7 | Union University Jackson, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 66% | $25,882 | — |
| 8 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 58% | $6,608 | — |
| 9 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OKPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 57% | $23,543 | — |
| 10 | Howard Payne University Brownwood, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 28% | $25,802 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages field (CIP 16.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1 | 27 | Liberty University27 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 18 | Brigham Young University18 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 10 | Dallas Theological Seminary5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | Concordia University - Irvine3 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 3 | Concordia University - Wisconsin3 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2 | Union University2 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary1 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | Oral Roberts University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, with a median wage of $59,440 and an outlook showing little or no change in job growth at 1.7%. There are approximately 6,900 annual openings in this field, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.1103
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 |
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 Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 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 Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11).
- Arabic Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1101198 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Middle/CIP 16.1199
Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 73 graduates / yr11 institutions - Middle/CIP 16.1100
Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics partial data34 graduates / yr6 institutions - Hebrew Language and LiteratureCIP 16.1102partial data20 graduates / yr6 institutions
See all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages.
What languages will I study?+
You will study languages such as Akkadian, Aramaic, and Ugaritic, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or a foreign language and literature teacher.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in translation, critical thinking, and reading comprehension.
What is the CIP code for Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.1103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages (CIP 16.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on one or more of the extinct Semitic and/or Non-Semitic languages spoken in the ancient Near East, including those used to write historical Jewish and Christian religious texts. These languages include, but are not limited to, Egyptian/Coptic, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Cannanite, Phonecian, Samarian, Ugaritic, Syriac, Mandean, Hattic, Elamite, Hurrian, Hittite, Urartian, Lydian, Luwian, Lycian, Palaic, Sabaean/South Arabian, and other associated languages. Includes instruction in philology, epigraphy, papyrology, numismatics, and textual studies.
How many institutions offer Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 65 credentials in the year. That is 16.7% of all Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages graduates.
How much do Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages field report median earnings of $48,355 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.
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