[Classical Languages & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/classical-languages-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 270 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for classical languages & literature students.
Finding the Best Value Classical Languages & Literature School for You
Where you study classical languages & literature affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Classical Languages & Literature Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Classical Languages & Literature Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best value for a degree in classical languages & literature in the United States. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Princeton University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in classical languages & literature, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for classical languages & literature. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Florida State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value classical languages & literature schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $19,633 in student loans. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value classical languages & literature schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #6 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $58,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Arizona came in at #7 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #8 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #9 position for value in classical languages & literature this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $23,258. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for value in classical languages & literature this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Vermont landed the #11 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $22,607. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary came in at #12 for value in classical languages & literature this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $18,935. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
Brown University came in at #13 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $13,025. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
St Johns College New Mexico placed #14 among the best values for classical languages & literature. St Johns College New Mexico is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,514. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $27,000. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of St Johns College New Mexico earn a median of $23,029 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #15 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University earned the #17 position for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $79,632. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Villanova University came in at #18 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
Narrow Classical Languages & Literature Schools by Region
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 270 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Classical Languages & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/classical-languages-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
