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Archaeology & Classical Studies

Types of Degrees Archaeology & Classical Studies Majors Are Earning

Those studying Archaeology & Classical Studies can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	131
Master’s Degree	34
Doctor’s Degree	5

What Archaeology & Classical Studies Majors Need to Know

Studies in Archaeology & Classical Studies build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Archaeology & Classical Studies emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.8 / 7.
• History and Archeology — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• Sociology and Anthropology — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Geography — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Archaeology & Classical Studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Archaeology & Classical Studies careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.7 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.5 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Archaeology & Classical Studies professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Collaborative editing software	Word processing software	—
iParadigms Turnitin	Information retrieval or search software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Calendar and scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Course management system software	Computer based training software	—
Image scanning software	Optical character reader OCR or scanning software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates include:

• Associate Professor
• College Professor
• Professor
• University Faculty Member
• Lecturer
• Assistant Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Instructor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Economic History Teacher
• African History Professor
• Jewish History Professor
• Russian History Professor
• History Teacher
• History Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	64.6%
Master’s degree	30.2%
Post-master’s certificate	1.5%
Post-doctoral training	1.3%
First professional degree	0.9%
Bachelor’s degree	0.8%
Less than a high school diploma	0.3%
Some college courses	0.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Archaeology & Classical Studies?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 67.1% of Archaeology & Classical Studies degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	114	67.1%
Men	56	32.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	109	64.1%
Asian	8	4.7%
Hispanic or Latino	18	10.6%
Black or African American	4	2.4%
Two or More Races	12	7.1%
Race Unknown	8	4.7%
International Students	11	6.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Archaeology & Classical Studies Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$32,054
4 years	$34,228
5 years	$48,797

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $48,797 — roughly 52% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Archaeology & Classical Studies Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Archaeology & Classical Studies graduates earn a median of $34,228 four years after completion — about 10% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Classical and Ancient Studies	30.22
Ancient Studies/Civilization	30.2201
Classical and Ancient Studies, Other	30.2299
History and Language/Literature	30.4501
Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis	30.1202
History and Political Science	30.4601

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.