by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 31 U.S. colleges awarded 199 degrees and certificates in Archaeology & Classical Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Archaeology & Classical Studies 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.
A major in Archaeology & Classical Studies involves the study of Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, And Near Eastern Studies And Archaeology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Classical Ancient Civilizations Of The Ancient Near East, Europe, And The Mediterranean Sea, Such As Athens, Anatolia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Mesopotamia, North Africa, And Rome. Includes Instruction In Ancient Languages, Ancient History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Greek And Roman Mythology, Philosophy, And Religion. Examples: [Ancient Mediterranean Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, archaeology & classical studies draws strong interest, with 199 degrees awarded annually. 31 colleges award archaeology & classical studies degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
By level, the 199 awards include 152 bachelor’s degrees, 41 master’s degrees and 6 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of archaeology & classical studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (130 of 199). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (125) and Hispanic or Latino (19), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks archaeology & classical studies schools within 1 state. In all, 31 colleges offer archaeology & classical studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common archaeology & classical studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 152 of the 199 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to archaeology & classical studies 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 archaeology & classical studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 152 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 41 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to archaeology & classical studies, at 64.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.6% |
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Archaeology & Classical Studies, with an average median salary of $56,780; the strongest outlook belongs to History Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include University Faculty Member, Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to archaeology & classical studies, 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% |
Archaeology & Classical Studies 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 archaeology & classical studies is Historians, with a median salary of $89,780.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $51,341 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
Archaeology & Classical Studies has 2 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 155 degrees a year; the largest are Ancient Studies/Civilization (153) and Classical and Ancient Studies, Other (2). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ancient Studies/Civilization | 153 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies, Other | 2 |
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