Classics and Classical Languages Colleges Under $20,000

The University of Florida delivers one of the most remarkable educational values in American higher education, offering classics and classical languages programs at just $6,351 net cost while maintaining a 91.5% graduation rate. This combination of affordability and academic excellence creates an outlier that challenges assumptions about cost versus quality in classical studies. CUNY institutions dominate the most affordable tier, with Hunter College leading at $2,446 net cost, while the system collectively demonstrates that urban environments can provide strong foundations in classical scholarship. The Northeast corridor's concentration of museums, libraries, and cultural institutions creates natural career pathways for classics graduates, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Smithsonian Institution. California State University-Long Beach rounds out the sub-$9,000 options at $8,931, proving that quality classical education extends beyond traditional East Coast strongholds. Earnings for classics graduates range from $22,824 to $30,409, reflecting the field's preparation for varied career paths including education, law, journalism, and cultural preservation.

Programs

$2,446 – $14,981

Net Price Range

$26,529

Avg. Program Earnings

65.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
4	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
5	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
6	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
7	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
8	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
9	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
10	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
11	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
12	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
13	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
14	University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	$10,043	$6,410	74.6%	43.9%
15	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina	$10,170	$7,593	57.9%	91.9%
16	Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	$10,555	$59,710	97.1%	5.7%
17	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$10,997	$5,656	83.0%	25.0%
18	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
19	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
20	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
21	Truman State University Kirksville, Missouri	$12,030	$9,470	68.4%	45.1%
22	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
23	University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, Illinois	$12,313	$14,338	60.3%	78.7%
24	Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois	$12,437	$49,834	79.2%	61.2%
25	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
26	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
27	University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, North Carolina	$12,865	$7,461	55.0%	74.3%
28	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
29	Saint Peter's University Jersey City, New Jersey	$12,973	$41,054	63.1%	88.8%
30	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina	$12,983	$8,989	92.1%	17.1%
31	University of Mississippi University, Mississippi	$13,164	$9,412	68.5%	97.4%
32	University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	$13,172	$9,315	63.9%	89.1%
33	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
34	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
35	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
36	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
37	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
38	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825	$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
39	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
40	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059	$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
41	Montclair State University Montclair, New Jersey	$14,159	$14,766	64.3%	91.3%
42	Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California	$14,317	$35,558	55.9%	75.0%
43	Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Brookline, Massachusetts	$14,334	$22,490	44.4%	57.9%
44	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
45	Brigham Young University Provo, Utah	$14,487	$6,496	82.2%	66.7%
46	Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan	$14,773	$14,297	56.5%	75.3%
47	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan	$14,832	$17,228	93.2%	17.7%
48	Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	$14,852	$64,860	96.6%	8.5%
49	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
50	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the University of Florida's strong value in classics programs?

Florida combines a net cost of just $6,351 with a 91.5% graduation rate and the highest earnings potential at $30,409 for classics graduates. The university's acceptance rate of 23.35% indicates selectivity that maintains academic standards while keeping costs low through state funding. This combination makes it an outlier among affordable classics programs nationally.

How do CUNY colleges compare for classical studies affordability?

Five CUNY institutions rank among the top six most affordable options, with net costs ranging from $2,446 at Hunter College to $3,830 at Queens College. Hunter College achieves the best balance with 61% graduation rate and $26,353 median earnings. Brooklyn College follows closely at $2,943 with 56.6% graduation rate, while Queens College offers the highest CUNY graduation rate at 60.2%.

Is there a significant difference between regional and main campus costs?

Ohio University's regional campuses show dramatically lower graduation rates despite similar costs to the main campus. Eastern Campus graduates only 20% of students at $4,503 net cost, while Chillicothe Campus achieves just 12.1% graduation at $6,483. These regional options may offer lower immediate costs but present completion risks that could affect long-term value.

Does location affect career prospects for classics graduates?

Urban campuses like CUNY Hunter and Brooklyn Colleges provide access to major museums, libraries, and cultural institutions that frequently hire classics graduates. California State University-Long Beach at $8,931 offers proximity to Getty Center and other West Coast cultural employers. The University of Florida's $30,409 graduate earnings suggest strong career placement despite being outside traditional northeastern cultural centers.

Where can students find the best graduation rates under $10,000?

The University of Florida leads with 91.5% graduation rate at $6,351, followed by California State University-Long Beach with 69.9% at $8,931. Among CUNY schools, Hunter College achieves 61% graduation rate at $2,446, while Queens College reaches 60.2% at $3,830. These four institutions represent the strongest completion records for affordable classics 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.