I’ve written quite a bit over the years about classics. In particular, note my posts [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/12896093/#Comment_12896093%5Dhere%5B/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/12896093/#Comment_12896093]here[/url] (my grouping of classics programs by quality) and [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/16471231/#Comment_16471231%5Dhere%5B/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/16471231/#Comment_16471231]here[/url] (a more recent ranking of mine and my criteria for a strong classics program).
To answer your question, yes…in general, the same schools are strong in classics. Classics departments are small enough that a handful of retirements or losses to other schools can have a huge effect, and there has been considerable movement within tiers in the last decade, but that is of more interest to a prospective graduate student.
Depending on your state of residence, your flagship public may make an excellent safety. Many of the best classics programs are at public universities.