2027 Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools
[Archaeology & Classical Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/classical-ancient-studies/archaeology-classical-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for archaeology & classical studies students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies School for You
The archaeology & classical studies program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
See how we build our rankings
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in archaeology & classical studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools
For return on investment in archaeology & classical studies, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #2 place for archaeology & classical studies. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for archaeology & classical studies graduates is $21,813. Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in archaeology & classical studies will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, archaeology & classical studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in archaeology & classical studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Early-career archaeology & classical studies graduates make about $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Narrow Archaeology & Classical Studies Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Archaeology & Classical Studies is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
