2026 Best Value East Asian Languages Schools in California
[East Asian Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/east-asian-languages/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for east asian languages students.
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2026 Best Value East Asian Languages Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in east asian languages, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value East Asian Languages Schools
For return on investment in east asian languages, no school beat San Diego Mesa College this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the east asian languages program here. Early-career east asian languages graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value east asian languages schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Typical student debt for east asian languages graduates is $6,672. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in east asian languages will find it at Pasadena City College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #4 place for east asian languages. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the east asian languages program here. Early-career east asian languages graduates make about $54,471. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Long Beach City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value east asian languages schools. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,870 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Diablo Valley College came in at #6 for value in east asian languages this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete the east asian languages program here. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #7 for value in east asian languages this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the east asian languages program here. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Foothill College earned the #8 position for value in east asian languages this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for east asian languages graduates is $11,595. Early-career east asian languages graduates make about $94,152. Set against $11,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Los Angeles City College landed the #9 spot for east asian languages value this year. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $10,763 to complete the east asian languages program here. East Asian Languages graduates of Los Angeles City College earn a median of $83,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Irvine earned the #10 position for value in east asian languages this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. East Asian Languages graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Francisco State University landed the #11 spot for east asian languages value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Students borrow a median of $14,108 to complete the east asian languages program here. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $19,861. That is a strong return on a $14,108 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value east asian languages schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #13 among the best values for east asian languages. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $13,900 in student loans. Early-career east asian languages graduates make about $23,980. Set against $13,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #14 position for value in east asian languages this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #15 for value in east asian languages this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $14,622 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian languages degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $49,032. That is a strong return on a $14,622 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of California Davis landed the #16 spot for east asian languages value this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Early-career east asian languages graduates make about $28,997. Set against $15,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #17 for value in east asian languages this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. East Asian Languages graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. East Asian Languages 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%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
