by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 28 U.S. colleges awarded 153 degrees and certificates in Ancient Studies/Civilization. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 84% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ancient Studies/Civilization Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,054 one year after completing, rising to $40,615 after four years.
Studying Ancient Studies/Civilization involves the study of Ancient Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On Western And Non-Western Cultures And Related Topics In The Periods Of Pre-History And Antiquity. Includes Such Disciplines As Ancient Languages, Archeology, History, Art History, Geography, Population Studies, Environmental Studies, Religious Studies, And The Social Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, ancient studies/civilization is a popular field of study, with 153 degrees awarded annually. 28 colleges award ancient studies/civilization degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 21.
By level, the 153 awards include 129 bachelor’s degrees, 16 master’s degrees and 8 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of ancient studies/civilization degrees and certificates in the latest year (97 of 153). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (105) and Hispanic or Latino (18), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ancient Studies/Civilization Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks ancient studies/civilization schools within 1 state. In all, 28 colleges offer ancient studies/civilization programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ancient Studies/Civilization Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ancient studies/civilization credential is the bachelor’s degree: 129 of the 153 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ancient studies/civilization call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, History and Archeology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an ancient studies/civilization degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 129 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 16 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ancient studies/civilization, at 64.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.5% |
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Ancient Studies/Civilization, with an average median salary of $59,893; the strongest outlook belongs to Anthropologists and Archeologists, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, College Professor, Assistant Professor and University Faculty Member.
The occupation related to ancient studies/civilization with the most projected jobs is History Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,269,153.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | 12,925 | 12.9% |
Ancient Studies/Civilization graduates earn a median $32,054 one year after completing their program, $40,615 after four years and $48,797 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $40,615 |
| 5 years | $48,797 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to ancient studies/civilization is Historians, with a median salary of $89,780.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $51,341 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
Ancient Studies/Civilization has 2 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 201 degrees a year; the largest are Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology (199) and Classical and Ancient Studies, Other (2). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology | 199 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies, Other | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
