2026 Best Value Asian-American Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Asian-American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/asian-american-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value asian-american studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the asian-american studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best value for a degree in asian-american studies in the United States. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $41,156. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
California State University Northridge came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $15,000. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $26,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Long Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in asian-american studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $12,187. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $27,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in asian-american studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $18,998. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $26,712. Set against $18,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes San Francisco State University one of the best values for asian-american studies. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,875 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Asian-American Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $31,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University placed #6 among the best values for asian-american studies. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Asian-American Studies graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #7 among the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $32,341. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside earned the #8 position for value in asian-american studies this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $40,040. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $29,914. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley placed #10 among the best values for asian-american studies. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $15,740 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $15,740 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of California Davis earned the #11 position for value in asian-american studies this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,563 early in their careers. Set against $14,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,402 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $23,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #13 for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $19,750. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $28,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #14 for value in asian-american studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #15 position for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,965 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Set against $26,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Southern California ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Other Asian-American Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Asian-American Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Asian-American Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
