by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 88 degrees and certificates in Japanese Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
A major in Japanese Studies involves the study of Japanese Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The Peoples Of Japan, And Related Island Groups And Coastal Neighbors.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, japanese studies is a popular field of study, with 88 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award japanese studies degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 17.
By level, the 88 awards include 79 bachelor’s degrees and 9 master’s degrees.
Women earned 59% of japanese studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (52 of 88). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (45) and Asian (14), and international students earned 5.
The most common japanese studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 79 of the 88 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to japanese studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, 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 Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a japanese studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 79 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to japanese 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 Japanese 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 Ethnic Studies Professor, Lecturer, University Faculty Member and Faculty Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to japanese studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Japanese 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 japanese studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Japanese Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,015 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 |
| East Asian Studies | 559 |
| Latin American Studies | 502 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 318 |
| African Studies | 206 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 177 |
| French Studies | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.