Best institutions to study East Asian Languages
Compare 170 U.S. colleges offering East Asian Languages by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 41 states.
East Asian Languages programs report a median of $27,331 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 16.03 and the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC).
About East Asian Languages programs
The East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program offers students a comprehensive understanding of East Asia's rich cultural heritage, language, and history. This multidisciplinary field encourages exploration of various aspects of East Asian societies, making it ideal for those interested in pursuing careers in international relations, education, or cultural exchange. Students can specialize in specific languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan, providing them with the linguistic skills and cultural insights necessary for effective communication and engagement in East Asian contexts. This program is perfect for individuals passionate about language, literature, and the diverse cultures of East Asia.
In the East Asian Languages program, students develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes language acquisition, translation techniques, and cultural studies, equipping students with the knowledge needed to navigate and appreciate the complexities of East Asian languages and societies.
Top 21 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,769 | 4 | 95% | $19,452 | $21,040 |
| 2 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,070 | 11 | 89% | — | — |
| 3 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,027 | 10 | 86% | — | $17,100 |
| 4 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,513 | 9 | 67% | — | — |
| 5 | North Central College Naperville, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,594 | 3 | 64% | $20,052 | — |
| 6 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,219 | 32 | 85% | — | $18,463 |
| 7 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,997 | 26 | 86% | — | $15,375 |
| 8 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,109 | 37 | 88% | — | $22,500 |
| 9 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,856 | 6 | 81% | — | $20,620 |
| 10 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,349 | 38 | 80% | — | $24,093 |
| 11 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,331 | 21 | 72% | — | $21,201 |
| 12 | St Olaf College Northfield, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,328 | 9 | 84% | $18,124 | $22,602 |
| 13 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,571 | 20 | 57% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,457 | 11 | 85% | — | — |
| 15 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,262 | 20 | 53% | — | $25,500 |
| 16 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,825 | 20 | 69% | — | $28,313 |
| 17 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,451 | 65 | 64% | — | $18,076 |
| 18 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,980 | 18 | 93% | — | $13,900 |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,701 | 82 | 89% | — | $20,750 |
| 20 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,861 | 22 | 50% | — | $14,108 |
| 21 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,464 | 6 | 76% | — | — |
Offered across 41 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the East Asian Languages program can pursue various careers, including translation, education, and international business. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 6,900 positions and a median wage of $59,440. A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for East Asian Languages
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 16.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 16.03 (East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1124 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 27-3091 | Interpreters and Translatorsprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in East Asian Languages programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
Concentrations within East Asian Languages
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, GeneralCIP 16.0300
A general program that focuses on one or more of the languages of East Asia, including, but not limited to, the Sino-Tibetan, Japanese, and Korean languages
- Chinese Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0301
A program that focuses on the languages of China and associated dialects and literature
- Japanese Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0302
A program that focuses on the Japanese language
- Korean Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0303
A program that focuses on the Korean language
- Tibetan Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0304
A program that focuses on the Tibetan language
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, OtherCIP 16.0399
Any instructional program in East Asian languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
Common questions
What languages can I study in this program?+
You can specialize in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, or pursue a general focus in East Asian Languages.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
Graduates can work in translation, education, international relations, and cultural exchange.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings.
How much do East Asian Languages graduates earn?+
East Asian Languages graduates report median earnings of $27,331 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Interpreters and Translators occupation pays about $66,360 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for East Asian Languages?+
East Asian Languages maps to CIP 16.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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