By BCS Staff
November 2021
Whether you’re fascinated by ancient cultures, or are looking ahead to law or medical school, a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies is a great choice of degree program. Classical Studies is the study of Classical Greek and Roman antiquity — that is, the traditions and very soul of the Western world. Students who study Classical Studies develop sharp critical thinking skills, a comprehensive understanding of language, and an appreciation for art and culture. For this reason, Classical Studies is a popular choice of major for those interested in teaching or taking up archaeology. Because of the subject’s emphasis on Latin and Greek, Classical Studies is also a common undergraduate major for doctors and lawyers. In this article, we rank and highlight the best bachelor degrees in Classical Studies available in the United States.
Ranking Methodology
To come up with our list of the best Bachelor of Arts degrees in Classical Studies, we began by compiling a list of every accredited, four-year university offering just such a program. We considered degrees in Classics and Classical Studies, as well as closely related programs in Classical Civilization(s), Ancient Studies, Classical Antiquity, etc. Though most of our featured universities also offer majors in Latin and Greek, we did not primarily consider those majors for our list. To narrow down our ranking to only the top 30, we used the following points-based system:
Student to Faculty Ratio:
10:1 and lower : 5 points
11:1 to 13:1 : 4 points
14:1 to 16:1 : 3 points
17:1 to 19:1 : 2 points
20:1 and higher : 1 point
Out-of-State Tuition (annual):
Under $20,000: 5 points
Under $30,000: 4 points
Under $40,000: 3 points
Under $50,000: 2 points
Under $60,000: 1 point
Overall Graduation Rate:
90% and above: 5 points
80% to 89%: 4 points
70% to 79%: 3 points
60% to 69%: 2 points
50% and below: 1 point
10-Year Net Return on Investment (ROI):
10% and above: 5 points
8% to 9%: 4 points
6% to 7%: 3 points
4% to 5%: 2 points
1% to 3%: 1 point
Note: All tuition and other numbers were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. All tuition numbers are correct as of November 2021. In the event of a tie in points, the higher ranking was given to the university with the lower annual out-of-state tuition cost.
Table of Contents
#30. Calvin University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $36,300
Total Points: 12
Rounding out our list is Calvin University and its B.A. in Classical Studies. This degree program requires an additional 33-36 credits in Classics-related coursework. Class options include Greek Prose, Plato and Aristotle, and Latin Poetry, to name but three. Classical Studies majors at Calvin are also encouraged to spend the summer, or a semester in either Greece or Italy.
#29. University of Kansas
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Antiquity
Lawrence, Kansas
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $28,034
Total Points: 12
University of Kansas offers a B.A. in Classical Antiquity with two tracks: Classical Archaeology and Humanities. The degree program is especially designed to prepare students for graduate work in archaeology, history, or art history. As such, the required courses take an interdisciplinary approach to Greek and Roman cultures, and other subjects. Both tracks within the Classical Antiquity major offer summer archaeological fieldwork opportunities. A B.A. in Classical Languages is also offered.
#28. University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in Classical Studies
Chicago, Illinois
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $27,566
Total Points: 12
University of Illinois at Chicago offers a unique B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in Classical Studies. To earn this Classical Studies degree, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The latter include options such as Greek Mythology, Roman Art and Archaeology, and Arabic, to name but three. Students may also choose to pair their bachelor’s degree with a minor in either Arabic or Classical Studies.
#27. University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Bachelor of Arts in Classics and Religious Studies
Lincoln, Nebraska
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $25,828
Total Points: 12
University of Nebraska, Lincoln offers a B.A. in Classics and Religious Studies with three concentrations: Classical languages, Classics, and religious studies. To complete a concentration, two additional courses are required. Options include Classical Mythology, Jesus: A Global History, and Issues in the Theory and Study of Religion, to name but three. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad in Greece, Italy, Ireland, or Morocco.
#26. Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
New York, New York
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $61,788
Total Points: 13
Columbia University offers a B.A. in Classics that is designed for students who do not necessarily have a background in Latin or Greek. Eleven courses are required, including two in ancient cultures, and two in a secondary language. Majors in Classical Studies and Ancient Studies are also offered with similar requirements. Students pursuing any Classical major have the opportunity to study abroad in either Rome or Athens.
#25. Tufts University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Medford, Massachusetts
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $58,578
Total Points: 13
Tufts University offers an impressive number of Classical majors and minors, including Classical Studies. Ten courses are required to complete the major. These include two courses each in either Greek or Latin and history. Other majors offered include Archaeology, Greek, Latin, and Greek and Latin.
#24. Brown University
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Providence, Rhode Island
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $58,404
Total Points: 13
The B.A. in Classics offered by Brown University focuses on the literature, languages, history, and culture of Greco-Roman antiquity. Language courses are available in ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, and modern Greek. Students are also encouraged to take up a concentration, of which there are eight different options. A senior thesis or capstone project is also required to complete the degree.
#23. Barnard College
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
New York, New York
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $57,668
Total Points: 13
Barnard College offers four different Classical Studies majors, including Classics. Students pursuing this degree are exposed to original texts in Greek or Latin. They are also encouraged to fill their schedules with classes on ancient storytelling, history, and philosophy, among other things. Most Classics majors at Barnard take the opportunity to study abroad in either Greece or Rome. Majors in Greek, Latin, and Ancient Studies are also available.
#22. Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Middletown, Connecticut
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $57,334
Total Points: $57,334
Wesleyan University offers a B.A. in Classics. Students pursuing the degree are required to focus on either Greek or Latin. Courses cover everything from archaeology to history to poetry, though the biggest emphasis is placed on reading texts in the original. A B.A. in Classical Civilization is also offered. Students in either major have access to a slew of opportunities, including summer language study, archaeological digs, and study abroad programs.
#21. Wellesley College
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $56,052
Total Points: 13
Wellesley College — a private women’s liberal arts college in Massachusetts — offers a B.A. in Classics. The interdisciplinary degree program combines work in both Greek and Latin with work in English on ancient history, literature, and art. All students work closely with an advisor from the Classical Studies Department, and are given the opportunity to tailor their education towards their interests and professional goals. Opportunities for Classics majors include an honors program, study abroad in Rome and Athens, and research opportunities.
#20. Bates College
Bachelor of Arts in Classical & Medieval Studies
Lewiston, Maine
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $55,683
Total Points: 13
Rounding out our top 20 is Bates College. The private liberal arts college offers a B.A. in Classical & Medieval Studies. Uniquely, this degree program links Classical antiquity with the medieval world. Students take courses in the history, literature, art, and culture of groups like the Romans, ancient Greeks, Vikings, and early Muslims. Students are also encouraged to study abroad.
#19. Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
St. Louis, Missouri
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $55,292
Total Points: 13
Washington University in St. Louis offers two majors within the Classical Studies department: Classics and Ancient Studies. Students pursuing the former have plenty of interesting classes and seminars from which to choose, and which satisfy the major requirements. These include The World of Cleopatra, Wining and Dining in the Classical World, and Childhood in Greek Antiquity, to name but three. Opportunities for Classics majors include an honors program, study abroad, undergraduate research, and summer language intensives.
#18. University of Richmond
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization
Richmond, Virginia
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $54,690
Total Points: 13
Virginia-based University of Richmond offers three different majors, and three combined majors within its Classical Studies department. The B.A. in Classical Civilization requires nine units in addition to the core curriculum and prerequisites. Course options include Image and Icon in Medieval Art, Hellenistic Greece and Republican Rome, and Medieval Italy, to name but three. Program highlights include a minor in archaeology, archaeological digs in Turkey, and several different study abroad options.
#17. Saint Joseph’s University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $46,550
Total Points: 13
Saint Joseph’s University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies with two concentrations: Classical languages and literature, and ancient cultures. The list of potential courses is long and fascinating, and includes Life & Death on the Ancient Stage, Sports and Spectacles, and Pompeii & Herculaneum, to name but three. An honors program is also available, as is a minor in ancient cultures.
#16. University of California, San Diego
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
La Jolla, California
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $44,169
Total Points: 13
U.C. San Diego is one of four University of California schools to make our list of the best bachelor’s in Classics. This top-ranked public research university offers a B.A. in Classics with the choice of two emphases: Latin and Greek. Each emphasis consists of courses in civilization, language, and literature. An honors program is also available to students with a GPA in the major of at least 3.7.
#15. University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Irvine, California
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $43,481
Total Points: 13
The Classics major at U.C. Irvine offers three different emphases: Greek and Latin Language and Literature, Latin Language and Literature, and Classical Civilization. Regardless of a student’s choice of emphasis, classes focusing on the languages, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome are required. A senior capstone is also required.
#14. University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization
Los Angeles, California
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $42,994
Total Points: 13
UCLA offers a B.A. in Classical Civilization. The degree requires three courses in the Classics, and at least a third-level course of Latin or Greek. Nine additional upper-division courses in the Classics department are also required. Potential courses include Minoan Art and Archaeology, Readings in Greek Prose and Poetry, and Roman Novel, to name but a few. Before graduation, all students in the Classics departments complete a Capstone Seminar. Related majors include bachelor’s degrees in Latin, Greek, and Greek and Latin.
#13. University of Iowa
Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Civilization
Iowa City, Iowa
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $31,569
Total Points: 13
University of Iowa offers what it refers to on its website as “a small liberal arts school in the stimulating atmosphere of a Research-1 university.” The “small liberal arts school” to which they refer is actually Iowa’s Department of Classics, which offers two different majors in Classical Studies. Students who choose to pursue the B.A. in Ancient Civilization complete a number of Classics and history courses. Language courses are not required. Program highlights include coffee hours with faculty, study abroad opportunities, and internships on archaeological digs. A major in Classical Languages is also offered.
#12. Hillsdale College
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Hillsdale, Michigan
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $28,368
Total Points: 13
Considering Hillsdale College is rooted in Classical education, it should come as no surprise that Hillsdale’s B.A. in Classics is one of the best in the nation. Students pursuing this major immerse themselves in Latin and Greek civilizations. Courses include “Literature of the Roman Republic,” “Introduction to Homeric Greek,” and “Readings in Koine Greek,” to name but three. Student opportunities include Classics-themed clubs, the potential for Latin honors, study abroad, and an honors program which organizes trips to Turkey.
#11. Colgate University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Hamilton, New York
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $58,045
Total Points: 14
Colgate University’s Department of the Classics offers four different majors, including a B.A. in Classical Studies. Students study the ancient Greek and Roman worlds through a multifaceted approach. Courses cover topics such as philosophy, politics, religion, and archaeology, among other things. Students may also choose to take a few additional classes in order to participate in three-week trips to Italy or Greece.
#10. Dartmouth College
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Hanover, New Hampshire
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $57,638
Total Points: 14
Students at Dartmouth College have four Classics majors from which to choose, including a B.A. in Classical Studies. Classical Studies majors must complete at least two courses each in ancient history; Classical archaeology; and Classical literature, philosophy, and religion. Students must also complete a Culminating Experience, which can be study abroad, a Classics-related internship, or a Senior Honors Project.
#9. Swarthmore College
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $54,656
Total Points: 14
Swarthmore College offers four classics majors, including a B.A. in Classical Studies. The major requires courses in art history, philosophy, and languages. A Classical Studies Capstone Seminar is also required to complete the degree. Other majors offered by the Classical Studies department include Ancient History, Latin, and Greek. Unlike the B.A. in Classical Studies, these majors require advanced work in either ancient Greek or Latin.
#8. Emory University
Bachelor of Arts in Classics
Atlanta, Georgia
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $53,804
Total Points: 14
Students at Emory University have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Classics. Students at the private research institution complete 46-56 credit hours in Classical Studies. These include at least four classes in a language, and at least two in Greek or Roman art or philosophy. Other Classics-related majors include Classical Civilization, Classics and History, and Latin, among others.
#7. Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical and Mediterranean Studies
Nashville, Tennessee
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $52,070
Total Points: 14
Vanderbilt University offers a B.A. in Classical and Mediterranean Studies. Students studying at the private research university may choose between three tracks: Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Mediterranean Archaeology, and Mediterranean Studies. In addition to coursework in various aspects of the past, students have the opportunity to participate in archaeological fieldwork, learn ancient languages abroad, and study overseas.
#6. University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilizations
Berkeley, California
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $44,007
Total Points: 14
U.C. Berkeley offers four different Classical Studies majors, including a B.A. in Classical Civilizations. Students at this top-ranked public research university must complete 40-46 units of major-specific coursework. Options include Archaeology of the Roman World, Epic Poetry, and The Roman Economy, to name but three. Program highlights include an Honors Program and an Art History and Classics Library housing more than 180,000 volumes. Bachelors of Art in Classical Languages, Greek, and Latin, are also offered.
#5. University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Austin, Texas
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $38,326
Total Points: 14
University of Texas at Austin offers a B.A. in Classical Studies. Students at the public research university may choose between two specializations: Ancient History or Classical Archaeology. Either choice includes courses on Greek and/or Roman history, Latin or Ancient Greek, and ancient civilizations. Students pursuing the Classical Archaeology specialization are also required to complete fieldwork experience.
#4. University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies
Baltimore, Maryland
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $27,662
Total Points: 14
University of Maryland, Baltimore County offers a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies. The degree includes courses in Greek, Latin, archaeology and history, and ancient society and culture. The Ancient Studies Department also facilitates opportunities for students to take part in internships and archaeological fieldwork. Highlights of the program include unique research opportunities, and the study tour that Ancient Studies professors organize each year.
#3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $51,200
Total Points: 15
University of Michigan ranks as one of the best schools in the country for Classical Studies. Students at the public research university have seven classics majors from which to choose, including a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization. Students may also choose to pursue the Honors Major, which requires a handful of additional courses, proven proficiency in either Ancient Greek or Latin, and an orally defended thesis. Other B.A. options within the department include Archaeology, Ancient Greek, Latin, Classical Languages and Literature, and a Teaching Certificate in Latin.
#2. Rice University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
Houston, Texas
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $49,112
Total Points: 15
Rice University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies with two choices of specialization: Classical Civilizations and Classical Languages. For either option, 120 credit hours must be completed in order to satisfy the degree. Required courses include Classical Mythology, Greek Civilization and Its Legacy, and Introduction to Indo-European, to name but three. Students have the opportunity to do well in their major, and graduate with Latin Honors.
#1. Purdue University
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies
West Lafayette, Indiana
Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $28,794
Total Points: 17
Topping our list of the best bachelor’s degrees in the Classics is Purdue University. The Indiana-based public research university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies with three tracks: Classical Languages, Literature Culture, and Material Culture History. Each track requires 120 credits to complete. Program highlights include emphases on both literature and archaeology, and the “archaeology field school,” which takes place in Turkey. Uniquely, motivated students can complete this degree in only three years.
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