by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 64 U.S. colleges awarded 559 degrees and certificates in East Asian Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best East 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 degree in East Asian Studies involves the study of East Asian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of East Asia, Defined As Including China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, Tibet, Related Borderlands And Island Groups, And Including The Study Of The East Asian Diasporas Overseas.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, east asian studies draws strong interest, with 559 degrees awarded annually. 64 colleges award east asian studies degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 44.
By level, the 559 awards include 8 certificates, 331 bachelor’s degrees, 203 master’s degrees and 17 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of east asian studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (335 of 559). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (163) and Asian (95), and international students earned 160.
College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best East Asian Studies Schools ranking, including 9 for bachelor’s degrees and 7 for master’s degrees. It also ranks east asian studies schools within 9 states. In all, 64 colleges offer east asian studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value East Asian Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common east asian studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 331 of the 559 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to east 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 Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an east asian studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 331 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 203 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to east 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 East 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 Associate Professor, Gender Studies Professor, Women’s Studies Professor and American Studies Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to east asian studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
East 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 east asian studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
East Asian Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 5,544 degrees a year; the largest are American/United States Studies/Civilization (1,217), Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) (785) and Asian Studies/Civilization (693). 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 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 693 |
| Area Studies, Other | 620 |
| 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.
