Classical and Ancient Studies Colleges Under $20,000

Rice University delivers the most striking value proposition in Classical and Ancient Studies, offering a $12,640 net price despite its $58,128 sticker price and 95.7% graduation rate. This mirrors a broader pattern where private institutions with substantial endowments can match public school affordability through financial aid. The University of California system dominates this field with four campuses under $16,000, reflecting the state's strength in humanities education and proximity to major museums like the Getty. Berkeley graduates earning up to $29,685 benefit from California's solid cultural sector, where classical studies skills translate well to museum curation, archaeological consulting, and educational technology companies serving the state's academic institutions. Public universities consistently offer the strongest value, with in-state costs ranging from $9,992 at Purdue to $17,228 at Michigan.

Programs

$12,313 – $19,678

Net Price Range

$23,818

Avg. Program Earnings

77.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

22 Classical and Ancient Studies Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, Illinois	$12,313	$14,338	60.3%	78.7%
2	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
3	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
4	Saint Peter's University Jersey City, New Jersey	$12,973	$41,054	63.1%	88.8%
5	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
6	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
7	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
8	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan	$14,832	$17,228	93.2%	17.7%
9	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
10	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
11	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$16,177	$10,020	51.2%	86.3%
12	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
13	University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas	$17,365	$11,700	68.8%	87.8%
14	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424	$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
15	University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland	$18,328	$12,952	70.6%	80.6%
16	Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania	$18,686	$62,412	94.1%	6.9%
17	Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, Michigan	$18,873	$58,764	81.7%	79.3%
18	Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	$19,040	$63,946	92.7%	6.7%
19	Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania	$19,258	$47,675	59.6%	75.2%
20	Rutgers University-Newark Newark, New Jersey	$19,407	$16,586	67.6%	73.9%
21	Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, Texas	$19,655	$18,610	35.5%	85.7%
22	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains Rice University's low net price for Classical and Ancient Studies?

Rice's $12,640 net price represents massive financial aid despite a $58,128 sticker price, making it competitive with public universities. The university's substantial endowment allows generous need-based aid packages. With a 95.7% graduation rate and 8.68% acceptance rate, Rice attracts top students who typically receive significant financial support. This creates an unusual situation where a highly selective private university costs less than many public options for qualifying students.

How do California's programs compare to other regions?

Four UC campuses appear in this list, with net prices between $12,840 and $15,288, showing remarkable consistency. Berkeley graduates earn the highest reported salary at $29,685, while UCLA maintains a 92.7% graduation rate. California's strength in this field reflects its archaeological sites, top-tier museums, and proximity to entertainment industries that value classical studies backgrounds. The state's public university system provides strong access to ancient Mediterranean collections and research opportunities.

Is the graduation rate gap between schools significant for career outcomes?

Graduation rates vary dramatically from 51.2% at Wisconsin-Milwaukee to 95.7% at Rice, indicating major differences in student support and academic rigor. Schools above 85% graduation rates include UCLA, Berkeley, UC-Irvine, and Georgia, suggesting stronger completion environments. Classical and Ancient Studies requires sustained engagement with difficult texts and languages, making institutional support important. The 40-point spread between highest and lowest graduation rates reflects real differences in student success infrastructure.

Does geographic location affect job prospects for classics graduates?

California and major metropolitan areas offer more opportunities in museums, cultural institutions, and educational technology companies. Berkeley's $29,685 earnings advantage reflects proximity to Silicon Valley education startups and Bay Area cultural institutions. East Coast schools like Maryland-Baltimore County benefit from proximity to Washington DC's Smithsonian institutions and government positions requiring analytical skills. Midwest programs often connect to university towns with strong academic publishing and educational service industries.

Where do public universities offer the best in-state value?

Purdue leads with $9,992 in-state tuition, followed by Nebraska at $10,108 and Wisconsin-Milwaukee at $10,020. These Midwest public universities provide classical studies education at extremely low costs for residents. However, graduation rates vary significantly, with Purdue achieving 83.1% compared to Wisconsin-Milwaukee's 51.2%. In-state students should balance low tuition costs against completion rates and post-graduation support services when choosing programs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.