Cheapest Classics and Classical Languages Colleges in California

Stanford University delivers one of the most generous financial aid packages among California's Classics programs, bringing the net price down to just $12,136 despite a sticker price exceeding $62,000. This remarkable affordability places Stanford within $3,000 of UC campuses like San Diego and Irvine, making elite private education surprisingly accessible for Classics students. California State University-Long Beach leads all programs at $8,931 net cost, while the state's 15 schools span from $8,931 to over $31,000. The UC system dominates the middle range, with seven campuses offering strong programs between $11,750 and $16,607. California's entertainment industry, from Hollywood studios to video game developers, increasingly values graduates who understand narrative structure, mythology, and ancient storytelling traditions that form the foundation of modern media. Museums throughout Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego also employ Classics graduates as curators and educators, while the state's Cal Grant program helps cover tuition costs for qualifying residents across all income levels.

Programs

$8,931 – $50,959

Net Price Range

81.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

20 Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
2	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
3	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
4	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
5	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
6	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
7	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825	$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
8	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
9	Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California	$14,317	$35,558	55.9%	75.0%
10	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
11	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
12	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
13	Pomona College Claremont, California	$19,424	$62,326	93.2%	7.0%
14	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California	$27,384	$64,150	95.2%	10.4%
15	Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California	$31,198	$56,134	69.0%	87.9%
16	Pitzer College Claremont, California	$31,663	$62,692	83.2%	18.4%
17	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927	$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
18	Scripps College Claremont, California	$38,802	$63,434	87.1%	27.9%
19	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	$45,723	$58,974	79.8%	41.3%
20	Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California	$50,959	$59,241	88.5%	52.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes California State University-Long Beach the most affordable Classics program?

Cal State Long Beach charges just $8,931 net price for Classics students, nearly $3,000 less than the next cheapest option. The school maintains a 69.90% graduation rate while accepting 39.95% of applicants. In-state tuition runs only $7,008, and the Cal Grant program can cover most or all of this cost for qualifying California residents.

How does Stanford's financial aid compare to UC schools for Classics majors?

Stanford's $12,136 net price falls between UC San Diego at $11,750 and UC Irvine at $12,840, making it competitively priced despite the $62,484 sticker price. Stanford graduates 92.80% of students compared to 87.60% at UC San Diego and 86.00% at UC Irvine. The university's need-based aid eliminates tuition for families earning under $150,000 annually.

Is there a significant cost difference between public and private Classics programs?

Private schools range from Stanford's $12,136 net cost to Saint Mary's College at $31,198, while UC campuses cluster between $11,750 and $16,607. Pomona College costs $19,424 after aid but maintains a 93.20% graduation rate and accepts only 7.02% of applicants. Cal State schools offer the lowest prices, with Long Beach and San Francisco State both under $13,000.

Does the Cal Grant program significantly impact Classics program costs?

Cal Grant covers up to $14,000 annually at UC schools and can eliminate tuition entirely at Cal State campuses for qualifying students. Students from families earning under $80,000 typically qualify for maximum awards, while those earning up to $117,000 may receive partial funding. The program particularly benefits Classics majors at schools like UC Berkeley and UCLA, where in-state costs hover around $14,000.

Where do UC schools rank among California's most affordable Classics options?

Seven UC campuses appear in the top 12 most affordable programs, with San Diego leading at $11,750 net cost. Berkeley and UCLA, despite their selectivity, maintain net prices around $14,000-$15,000 through generous financial aid. Santa Barbara accepts 25.85% of applicants at $13,825 net cost, while Riverside offers the highest UC acceptance rate at 68.69% for $13,707.

More Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Rankings

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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.