2026 Best Value Classical Languages & Literature Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Classical Languages & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/classical-languages-literature/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong classical languages & literature education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 270 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for classical languages & literature students.
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2026 Best Value Classical Languages & Literature Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in classical languages & literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Classical Languages & Literature Schools
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for 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. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $10,492. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Princeton University earned it the #2 place for classical languages & literature. 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. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in classical languages & literature, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in classical languages & literature, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $19,633. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $51,884. Set against $19,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in classical languages & literature will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #5. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $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. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value classical languages & literature schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $23,138. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Arizona earned the #7 position for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee placed #8 among the best values for classical languages & literature. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $22,859. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #9 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $23,258. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for value in classical languages & literature this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Classical Languages & Literature graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Vermont landed the #11 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, 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. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary landed the #12 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Soon after graduation, classical languages & literature degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Brown University earned the #13 position for value in classical languages & literature this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete the classical languages & literature program here. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $62,820. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #14 spot for classical languages & literature value this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Classical Languages & Literature graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for classical languages & literature. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Georgetown University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value classical languages & literature schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for classical languages & literature graduates is $16,483. Early-career classical languages & literature graduates make about $79,632. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Other Classical Languages & Literature Degree Levels
Explore the best-value classical languages & literature schools at other degree levels:
View All Classical Languages & Literature Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 26 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.