Classics Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of ancient Greek and Roman languages, literature, history, and civilization.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$60K
salary
ROI Payback
8 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
5%
rate
Classics Overview
Study of ancient Greek and Roman languages, literature, history, and civilization.
Category
Humanities
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
62%
Enrollment Trend
declining
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
42%
Lifetime Premium
$160K
Female Graduates
48%
Classics Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,000
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,000
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$142,000
Lifetime earnings premium ($160,000) minus net degree cost ($18,000)
Classics Salary Progression
Common Classics Careers
Professor
Museum Curator
Archivist
Translator
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Classics
#1
Harvard
#2
Princeton
#3
Yale
#4
Stanford
#5
University of Chicago
Related Majors
Classics Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Classics Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for classics programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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