by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 102 U.S. colleges awarded 693 degrees and certificates in Asian Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 85% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Asian Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
A major in Asian Studies covers Asian Studies/civilization. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of The Asian Continent, Including The Study Of The Asian Diasporas Overseas.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., asian studies is a widely-pursued major, with 693 degrees awarded annually. 102 colleges award asian studies degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 52.
By level, the 693 awards include 592 bachelor’s degrees, 98 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of asian studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (424 of 693). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (220) and Asian (168), and international students earned 85.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Asian Studies Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks asian studies schools within 10 states. In all, 102 colleges offer asian studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Asian Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common asian studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 592 of the 693 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to asian studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an asian studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 592 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 98 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to asian studies, at 60.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Asian Studies, with an average median salary of $47,517; the strongest outlook belongs to Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 6.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, African Studies Professor, Associate Professor and Hawaiian Studies Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to asian studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Asian Studies graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing their program, $62,342 after four years and $64,509 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $62,342 |
| 5 years | $64,509 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to asian studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Asian Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,410 degrees a year; the largest are American/United States Studies/Civilization (1,217), Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) (785) and Area Studies, Other (620). Browse all Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,217 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 785 |
| Area Studies, Other | 620 |
| East Asian Studies | 559 |
| Latin American Studies | 502 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 318 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
| Russian Studies | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
