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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Classical Languages & Literature

270 Ranked Colleges
1,428 Degrees Awarded
$34,800 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 1,428 people earned their degree in classical languages and literature, making the major the 212th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, classical languages and literature graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,386 and had an average of $23,140 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major” ranking looked at 270 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in classical languages and literature. To top this list, a school must have a successful classical languages and literature program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Classical Languages & Literature Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Classical Languages Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major”.

1

Out of the 270 schools in the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at Columbia University in the City of New York

2
St. John's crest
St. John's College
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Out of the 270 schools in the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, St. John’s College landed the #2 spot on the list. Santa Fe, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s classical languages degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. John’s College Classical Languages & Literature Report

3
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 27 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at Florida State

4
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at University of Virginia - Main Campus

4
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Out of the 270 schools in the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Villanova University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 23 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Villanova Classical Languages & Literature Report

6
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Notre Dame Classical Languages & Literature Report

6

University of Colorado Boulder ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s classical languages degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Classical Languages & Literature Report

8
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 21 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at University of Arizona

9

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UW - Madison Classical Languages & Literature Report

9

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 19 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at The University of Texas at Austin

11
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Princeton is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s classical languages degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at Princeton University

11
NYU crest
New York University
New York, New York

New York University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full New York University Classical Languages & Literature Report

11
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s classical languages degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at University of Florida

14

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 17 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at Mizzou

15
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s classical languages degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at UChicago

15

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Classical Languages & Literature Report

15
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at Brown University

18

University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a large public school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 15 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Massachusetts Amherst Classical Languages & Literature Report

18
Holy Cross crest
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts

College of the Holy Cross did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking, coming in at #18. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s classical languages degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at College of the Holy Cross

18

With a ranking of #18, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at Ohio State University - Main Campus

18

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s classical languages students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at University of California - Santa Barbara

22
Tulane crest
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s classical languages degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at Tulane

22
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s classical languages degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at Stanford University

22
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Georgetown University is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s classical languages degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Classical Languages & Literature at Georgetown

25

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 13 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Classical Languages & Literature Report

25

University of Dallas ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major list. University of Dallas is a small school located in Irving, Texas that handed out 13 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at University of Dallas

25
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 13 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at University of Pennsylvania

25
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 14 ’s classical languages degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at William & Mary

25
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major ranking. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s classical languages degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Classical Languages & Literature at Harvard

Rest of the Best 44 in Most Well Attended Classical Languages Major

Not only did these schools make the top 44 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

30
Hope crest
Hope College
Holland, Michigan
30
30
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi
30
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
30
30
Bryn Mawr crest
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
30
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
37
37
39
Brandeis crest
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
39
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts
39
Trinity U crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas
39
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York
39
39
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
39
UVM crest
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
39
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
39
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
39
Grinnell crest
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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