Cheapest Classics and Classical Languages Colleges

CUNY Hunter College charges just $2,446 net for its Classics program, making it the most affordable option among public universities offering this field. The City University of New York system dominates the lowest-cost rankings, filling five of the top six spots with net prices under $4,000. This affordability matters particularly in New York's competitive cultural sector, where museums, publishing houses, and educational institutions regularly seek graduates with strong analytical and linguistic skills from Classical studies. Ohio University's regional campuses present an interesting contrast, with extremely low graduation rates between 12% and 20% despite reasonable costs around $5,000 to $6,000. The earnings range for Classics graduates spans $22,824 to $30,409, with University of Florida leading at the higher end while maintaining a net cost of just $6,351. Students considering this field should weigh the significant cost advantages of CUNY schools against completion rates that range from 49% at Lehman to 61% at Hunter.

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 makes CUNY schools so affordable for Classics students?

CUNY Hunter College offers the lowest net price at $2,446, followed closely by Brooklyn College at $2,943. These schools benefit from substantial state funding and serve primarily local students who qualify for need-based aid. The in-state tuition across CUNY schools ranges from $7,340 to $7,538, but generous financial aid packages bring actual costs down significantly for most students.

How do graduation rates vary among the most affordable programs?

Graduation rates show dramatic differences, from Ohio University-Chillicothe's 12.1% to University of Florida's 91.5%. CUNY schools maintain moderate rates between 49% and 61%, while Ohio University's regional campuses struggle with completion rates below 21%. University of Florida stands out with both affordability at $6,351 net cost and the highest graduation rate in this affordable tier.

Is there a significant earnings difference between the cheapest programs?

Early career earnings for Classics graduates range from $22,824 to $30,409 among schools with available data. University of Florida graduates earn $30,409 despite the school's low net cost of $6,351, while CUNY Hunter graduates earn $26,353. This suggests that program quality and location can maintain strong earning potential even at the most affordable institutions.

Does program size affect costs in Classical studies?

Most affordable Classics programs operate as smaller departments within larger universities, which helps control costs. CUNY schools leverage their urban locations and shared resources across multiple campuses to offer competitive pricing. University of Florida maintains low costs through high enrollment and state funding, while Ohio's regional campuses serve local populations with minimal overhead costs.

Where do the most affordable programs show the best value?

CUNY Hunter College offers the best overall value with a $2,446 net cost, 61% graduation rate, and $26,353 earnings. University of Florida provides strong value at $6,351 with 91.5% graduation rate and $30,409 earnings. Students should avoid Ohio University's regional campuses due to extremely low graduation rates despite affordable pricing around $5,000 to $6,000.

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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.