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Classical & Ancient Studies

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 30.2201 - 30.2299.

Types of Degrees Classical & Ancient Studies Majors Are Earning

Those studying Classical & Ancient Studies have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	270
Master’s Degree	43
Doctor’s Degree	17

What Classical & Ancient Studies Majors Need to Know

Studies in Classical & Ancient Studies emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Classical & Ancient Studies graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Classical & Ancient Studies emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.8 / 7.
• History and Archeology — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• Sociology and Anthropology — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Geography — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Classical & Ancient Studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Classical & Ancient Studies careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Classical & Ancient Studies graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.7 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.5 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Classical & Ancient Studies professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
DOC Cop	Information retrieval or search software	—
Sakai CLE	Computer based training software	—
Image scanning software	Optical character reader OCR or scanning software	—
Blackboard Learn	Computer based training software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Classical & Ancient Studies graduates include:

• Assistant Professor
• Lecturer
• Associate Professor
• University Faculty Member
• Professor
• College Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Adjunct Instructor
• Instructor
• History Adjunct Instructor
• Economic History Teacher
• World History Teacher
• Adjunct History Instructor
• History Instructor
• Online History Instructor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Classical & Ancient Studies graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share 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: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Classical & Ancient Studies?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 65.5% of Classical & Ancient Studies degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	216	65.5%
Men	114	34.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Classical & Ancient Studies graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	224	67.9%
Asian	21	6.4%
Hispanic or Latino	28	8.5%
Black or African American	8	2.4%
Two or More Races	23	7.0%
Race Unknown	9	2.7%
International Students	17	5.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Classical & Ancient Studies Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Classical & Ancient Studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$32,054
4 years	$34,228
5 years	$48,797

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $48,797 — roughly 52% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Classical & Ancient Studies Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Classical & Ancient Studies. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Bachelor’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Classical & Ancient Studies Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Classical & Ancient Studies graduates earn a median of $34,228 four years after completion — about 10% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Multi Interdisciplinary Studies	134,694
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	30,141
Biological and Physical Sciences	28,033
Data Analytics	12,891
Data Science	7,716
International/Globalization Studies	5,740
Nutrition Sciences	5,456
Behavioral Sciences	5,391
Sustainability Studies	4,374
Cognitive Science	3,121
Natural Sciences	2,648
Computational Science	2,395

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.