by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 6 degrees and certificates in Korean Studies. Graduates earn a median $37,815 one year after completing, rising to $62,342 after four years.
A major in Korean Studies involves the study of Korean Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of The Peoples Of Korea, Including Related Island Groups And Borderlands.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, korean studies draws strong interest, with 6 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award korean studies degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 5.
All 6 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 100% of korean studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (6 of 6). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2) and Hispanic or Latino (1), and international students earned 1.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to korean studies, at 4.2 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology. 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 korean studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to korean 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 Korean 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 Gender Studies Lecturer, Gender Studies Professor, Latin American Studies Professor and Assistant Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to korean studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Korean 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 korean studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Korean Studies has 29 similar majors in the Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies field, which together award 6,097 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.