10 Best Colleges for Classics in the US in 2026

Classics programs help you build a rare set of analytical and linguistic skills, such as parsing, a rigorous method of grammatical decoding that trains your brain in logical pattern recognition and linguistic precision. This allows classics graduates to perform exceptionally well on professional school entrance exams.

For instance, data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) shows that classics majors consistently outscore almost all other humanities disciplines on the LSAT, often averaging scores around 160. Beyond law and academia, these graduates find success in sectors like consulting, medicine, and technology because they can process complex information and write with precision.

In this article, we’ll list the top 10 colleges for classics based on the Niche Best Colleges for Latin and Ancient Greek Studies and the QS World University Classics & Ancient History Ranking.

• What Are the Best Colleges for Classics in the US?
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Princeton University
• Columbia University
• Stanford University
• Brown University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Duke University
• Cornell University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Colleges for Classics in the US?

Below are some of the best colleges for classics, along with their Niche and QS World University rankings:

Note: Our ranking equally weights national and global classics rankings, averaging each school’s positions into a composite score and ordering them from lowest to highest. For tied scores, we use the national ranking as the tiebreaker.

Let’s discuss each college one by one.

1. Harvard University

Rankings: #3 (Niche), #9 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: linguistic DNA & philology, Byzantine & Medieval Latin, history of science, linguistic precision

Acceptance Rate: 4.18% (Class of 2029)

Harvard Classics Department offers a rigorous classics curriculum that centers on deep archival access and linguistic mastery. You can choose between several tracks, including Greek and Latin, Classical Civilizations, or a joint concentration with Ancient History.

The department requires a junior tutorial, known as Classics 98, which trains you in specific research skills through small-group study. In your senior year, you can choose to write a thesis of up to 60 pages to graduate with honors. Joint concentrators will typically have two thesis advisers, one in each field.

The department’s primary strength lies in its massive scholarly resources, such as the Loeb Classical Library. This collection provides you with the same tools and primary texts that the world’s leading scholars use. The faculty regularly produces influential research in reception studies and digital humanities, ensuring the curriculum stays relevant.

The department also offers several research opportunities for undergraduates. For instance, the Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program (SHARP) is a 10-week immersive program where you collaborate with faculty or institutional partners, like the Harvard Art Museums. Meanwhile, the Center for Hellenic Studies (CHS) offers several internships in Greece, including a teaching internship for high school programs and a museum internship at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens.

2. Yale University

Rankings: #1 (Niche), #9 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: Imperial & Late Antique literature, social justice & marginalized identities, ancient & modern Greek

Acceptance Rate: 4.75% (Class of 2029)

The Yale Department of Classics is defined by a heavy emphasis on interdisciplinary research and a commitment to modernizing the field through risky scholarship and collaborative dialogue. It also mandates that faculty incorporate the “heterogeneity of the classical past” into every syllabus.

The department gives you three concentration options: Classics (Latin and Greek, Latin only, Greek only), Classical Civilization, and Ancient and Modern Greek. There are also many ways to interact with the classical world outside of your courses. For instance, the Departmental Colloquium is a monthly event where presenters showcase works that fit the theme, which is “Literary Innovations: New Forms of Reading and Writing in the Imperial Period and Late Antiquity” for 2025-2026.

The John J. Winkler Memorial Prize is perhaps the most distinctive award in the field. Administered by Yale Professor James Uden, it awards $2,000 for the best undergraduate or graduate essay in a risky or marginal field of Classics. Topics include sex/gender systems of antiquity, feminism, and queer studies.

The institution excels at integrating material culture with literary study. The Yale University Art Gallery holds over 13,000 ancient objects, allowing you to examine physical artifacts alongside the texts you read in class.

3. Princeton University

Rankings: #7 (Niche), #9 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: rhetoric & persuasion, interdisciplinary medicine & science, ancient slavery and politics

Acceptance Rate: 4.42% (Class of 2029)

The Princeton Classics Department offers two concentrations: Classical Studies and Ancient History. In a major shift in 2021, Princeton removed the mandatory requirement of Greek or Latin for entry into the concentration. While language study is no longer a barrier to entry, it is still highly encouraged and supported for those whose research interests require it.

Regardless of your track, you’ll be required to take a total of eight departmental courses at the 200-level or above plus the Junior Seminar, which introduces you to the various fields within the department (such as literature, history, and linguistics) and equips you with the research skills necessary for independent work.

Princeton’s course catalog for 2026 highlights the department’s interdisciplinary and global reach. For instance, CLA 225 Bondage and Slaving in Global History examines the history of slavery across different cultures, placing the ancient experience in a global context. Meanwhile, CLA 335 Ancient Friendship and the Modern Self explores how ancient concepts of personal relationships inform modern identity.

Princeton is also exceptionally generous in supporting international experiences through the SAFE (Student Activities Funding Engine) portal.

4. Columbia University

Rankings: #5 (Niche), #9 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: classical reception, ancient social history, history of the book, modern Greek & diaspora studies

Acceptance Rate: 4.94% (Class of 2029)

Columbia’s Department of Classics is unique for its five-track major system and its fast-track graduate opportunities, allowing you to specialize in linguistics, broad civilizations, or modern cultural impact:

• Classical Languages and Literatures. Focuses on Greek and Latin mastery
• Greek. Specializes in Greek literature, history, and culture
• Latin. Specializes in Roman literature, history, and culture
• Classical and Ancient Civilizations. Focuses on one area (Greece, Rome, Egypt, or the Near East) without a strict language requirement
• Classical Reception and the Classical Tradition. Traces how the ancient world influences later periods, such as the Renaissance or modern politics

The department also offers a combined BA/MA in Classics, allowing you to complete a Master’s degree in Classics within just one year of finishing your undergraduate degree.

Columbia provides several specific endowments to support your research and travel. For instance, the Classics Undergraduate Conference Fund helps you present your research at professional meetings or attend academic conferences. Meanwhile, the Undergraduate Latin Fund is a specialized endowment used exclusively for research or summer studies related to Latin language and literature, offering around $3,000 per year.

5. Stanford University

Rankings: #2 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: digital humanities (spatial & textual), maritime heritage, data visualization

Acceptance Rate: 3.61% (Class of 2028)

Stanford’s Department of Classics is defined by its integration of traditional philology with Silicon Valley’s technological resources. The department emphasizes that studying the ancient world requires modern tools, ranging from data visualization to digital mapping.

The department offers gateway courses, which are introductory classes designed to provide a broad point of entry into the major for students who may not have prior training in ancient languages. These include Classics 31 Greek Mythology, Classics 81 Ancient Empires: Near East, and Classics 154 Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Maritime Archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean.

Stanford is a global leader in Digital Classics, a field that applies computational methods to humanities research. The department hosts the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA), where classics students use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and network analysis to study the ancient world.

So, instead of just reading a single text, you might use algorithms to analyze patterns across thousands of Latin inscriptions or map the spread of archaeological finds over centuries. This training makes the degree highly relevant for careers in data science, urban planning, and digital archiving.

6. Brown University

Rankings: #9 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: Sanskrit & Indo-European linguistics, South Asian classics, interdisciplinary synthesis

Acceptance Rate: 5.65% (Class of 2029)

Brown’s Department of Classics is defined by the same spirit of intellectual freedom that characterizes the entire university. Because Brown lacks a core curriculum, the department operates as a collaborative hub where you can combine intensive philology with nearly any other discipline on campus.

To accommodate varying interests in linguistics and history, the department offers eight distinct pathways: Classics, Greek, Latin, Greek and Latin, South Asian Classics, Sanskrit, Greek and Sanskrit, and Latin and Sanskrit. All tracks now include a Classics and Beyond or DIAP (Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan) course, which ensures you study the reception of antiquity or its relationship to marginalized groups.

The Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) is a student-led organization that bridges the gap between the social and academic lives of the department. They organize mixers where you can talk to professors in an informal setting outside of office hours. They also coordinate trips to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to view their world-class classical collections.

Brown also hosts several prestigious endowed lecture series that bring the world’s leading classicists to Providence. For instance, the Michael C.J. Putnam Lecture, named after the legendary Latinist Michael Putnam, focuses on his specialties, such as Augustan poetry and its later influence.

7. University of Pennsylvania

Rankings: #10 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: Mediterranean archaeology, archaeological science, ancient inequality

Acceptance Rate: 4.87% (Class of 2029)

UPenn’s Department of Classical Studies is unique for its museum-integrated approach. Because the department is physically and academically intertwined with the Penn Museum, your education moves constantly between the classroom, the laboratory, and the excavation trench.

The department essentially offers four majors: Classical Languages and Literature, Classical Civilizations, Mediterranean Archaeology, and Ancient History. Regardless of your major, all students must complete at least one course that centrally addresses ancient inequalities (such as gender, slavery, or race) or complete a research project on these themes.

An especially UPenn-unique experience is the excavation opportunities. Undergraduates can participate in faculty-led excavations as early as their freshman year. On top of that, the Penn Museum is also a primary research facility for Classical Studies students. Penn upper-level students can even apply for paid internships to help curate actual museum exhibitions, moving objects from storage to public display.

Every April, the department holds the Senior Colloquium, a celebratory, non-graded roundtable discussion. Every graduating senior submits a representative sample of their best work (a paper or project) and a 100-word abstract, and the entire department’s students and faculty meet to discuss these works.

8. Duke University

Rankings: #12 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: papyrology & documentary studies, late antiquity, 3D reconstruction & virtual reality

Acceptance Rate: 5.20% (Class of 2029)

Duke’s Department of Classical Studies offers two primary majors and one interdisciplinary major:

• Classical Civilization Major. Focuses on history, art, archaeology, and philosophy. It is highly interdisciplinary and does not require advanced Greek or Latin, making it a popular choice for double-majors.
• Classical Languages Major (CLLA). Stresses the mastery of ancient Greek and Latin. This track is designed for students intending to pursue graduate work or are interested in high-level philology.
• Interdepartmental Major: Ancient Religion and Society. This combines Classical Studies with Religious Studies to explore the intersection of pagan, Jewish, and early Christian cultures.

The department’s research is defined by its massive geographic and chronological range, and can be organized into three pillars: Archaeology & Visual Studies, History & Historiography, and Language & Literature. This structure ensures that students can approach the ancient world from multiple methodological angles, whether they are interested in physical artifacts, historical narratives, or the texts themselves.

Duke also leverages its location and its management of international programs to give you access to resources far beyond its own campus. Among these, the Duke-UNC Consortium for Classical & Mediterranean Archaeology is one of the most unique partnerships in the country. It allows Duke students to take classes, attend seminars, and join excavations at UNC-Chapel Hill.

9. Cornell University

Rankings: #19 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: art-science interface, social critical theory, Anatolian & Caucasian archaeology

Acceptance Rate: 8.38% (Class of 2029)

Cornell’s Department of Classics combines traditional philological rigor and a modern, interdisciplinary approach to archaeology and digital humanities. Cornell offers four tracks: Classics, Greek, Latin, and Classical Civilization. Regardless of the track, every Cornell Classics major is trained to think originally and independently, master complex synthesis, and communicate with precision.

Cornell strongly encourages hands-on history through established partnerships. For instance, the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS) in Rome, also known as The Centro, is a highly competitive one-semester program. You’ll live in Rome and take a double-credit course called The Ancient City, which uses the city itself as your primary classroom and laboratory.

Meanwhile, College Year in Athens (CYA) offers semester, full-year, or summer programs. It’s the most comprehensive program in Greece, offering tracks in both Ancient Greek Civilization and East Mediterranean Studies, which includes modern politics and anthropology.

The department also provides dedicated funding to ensure that international research and language study remain accessible. The Summer Language Study Fellowship supports students who need to fast-track their Greek or Latin. It funds attendance at intensive summer language institutes, allowing you to complete a year’s worth of language study in just 6–8 weeks.

10. Johns Hopkins University

Rankings: #22 (Niche), #51-150 (QS World University)

Key Strengths: empirical lab research, object biography, race & ethnicity in antiquity

Acceptance Rate: 5.14% (Class of 2029)

Johns Hopkins’ Department of Classics is defined by its research-first mentality, which traces back to its founding as the first research university in the U.S. The department offers only one BA program. However, it also has the BA/MA Program, which allows high-achieving Classics majors to earn both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in either four (fast track) or five years (the standard track).

The Classics Research Lab allows undergraduates to earn course credit by working as lab members on faculty-led research projects. It treats the humanities like a STEM field. Instead of working in isolation, you collaborate with faculty and peers on big data or long-term historical puzzles. One of its recent projects is the Antioch Recovery Project (ARP), which involves  digitally reuniting dispersed mosaics from the ancient city of Antioch.

Another resource for Classics majors is the Archaeological Museum, where you can handle 2,000-year-old artifacts as part of your standard coursework. The museum also offers specialized internships where you can assist with conservation, cataloging, and exhibition design. While small, the collection is high-quality and diverse, featuring ancient Greek pottery, Roman inscriptions, and Egyptian artifacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the top colleges for classics in the US in 2026?

The top colleges for classics in the US in 2026 are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, UPenn, Duke, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins.

2. Is classics a hard degree?

Classics is demanding regardless of your track. You may be required to master ancient languages like Greek and Latin, learning complex grammar and extensive vocabulary to read primary texts. The degree also requires strong skills in historical analysis and critical writing. Success depends on your discipline and your interest in linguistics.

3. What makes a strong classics program?

A strong program offers diverse tracks, such as language, history, or archaeology. It should provide access to primary materials through museum collections or extensive libraries. Leading programs also emphasize undergraduate research, often requiring a senior thesis. Faculty expertise across multiple subfields like philology and digital humanities is also essential.

4. Is a classics degree still relevant today?

Yes, a classics degree is still relevant today because it trains you to analyze information and communicate clearly. Employers in law, finance, and tech value the soft skills that classics majors possess. The study of ancient politics and ethics also provides a useful framework for understanding modern democratic institutions and social conflicts.

5. What can I do with a classics degree?

You can pursue many careers, including law, education, museum curation, and publishing. Graduates also go to law or medical school because their undergraduate training improves their logic and verbal reasoning. Others work in the non-profit sector or in government, applying their knowledge of history and policy to modern issues.

Takeaways

• A classics degree helps build elite analytical and writing skills that are valued in competitive fields like law and consulting. You will learn to handle complex data and communicate with a high level of precision.
• Top programs like Princeton and Harvard require significant independent research, such as a senior thesis. This experience proves to employers and graduate schools that you can manage long-term projects and produce original insights.
• Top colleges often provide direct access to ancient artifacts and rare manuscripts through on-campus museums and archives. Using these physical resources helps you move beyond textbooks to understand the material reality of the ancient world.
• Classics graduates can enter diverse sectors, from Silicon Valley tech firms to national government agencies. The major’s focus on human history and logical reasoning makes you an adaptable candidate in a changing job market.
• Aiming to be a classics major? An academic and extracurricular roadmap can help you choose the right courses, activities, and competitions that shows the best colleges you already have the makings of an excellent classics student.