Best institutions to study East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Any instructional program in East Asian languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 64 East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0399, a specialization of East Asian Languages (CIP 16.03), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
Any instructional program in East Asian languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The East Asian Languages program focuses on the study of languages, literatures, and linguistics from East Asia. This program is designed for students interested in deepening their understanding of East Asian cultures and enhancing their language skills. It is suitable for those seeking to engage in global communication and cultural exchange in various professional contexts.
Learn more about East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics →
Students in the East Asian Languages program develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework typically covers critical thinking, learning strategies, and the ethical considerations of language translation, preparing graduates for effective communication in diverse settings.
Credentials awarded
What East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree36 graduates / yr · 3 institutions56%
- Master's degree16 graduates / yr · 6 institutions25%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship12 graduates / yr · 4 institutions19%
Graduates over time
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 138 |
| 2013 | 147 |
| 2014 | 143 |
| 2015 | 159 |
| 2016 | 135 |
| 2017 | 133 |
| 2018 | 101 |
| 2019 | 114 |
| 2020 | 90 |
| 2021 | 91 |
| 2022 | 80 |
| 2023 | 88 |
| 2024 | 76 |
| 2025 | 64 |
Top 6 institutions for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 32 | 85% | — | $29,219 |
| 2 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 10 | 86% | — | $32,027 |
| 3 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 88% | — | $28,109 |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 5 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 93% | — | $23,980 |
| 6 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster's | 1 | 93% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader East Asian Languages field (CIP 16.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all East Asian Languages programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 32 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities32 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 10 | Florida State University10 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 10 | Ohio State University - Main Campus10 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 8 | University of Chicago8 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | University of California - Los Angeles3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor1 / yr |
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 careers as interpreters and translators, with additional opportunities in education as secondary school teachers or postsecondary language instructors. The job outlook indicates little or no change in this field, with approximately 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440 for those holding a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0399
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interpreters and Translatorsprimary SOC 27-3091 | $60,170 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~6,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1124 | $79,350 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other East Asian Languages specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under East Asian Languages (CIP 16.03).
- Japanese Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0302783 graduates / yr117 institutions
- Chinese Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0301524 graduates / yr100 institutions
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0300288 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Korean Language and LiteratureCIP 16.0303120 graduates / yr20 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Tibetan Language and Literature16.0304
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in East Asian Languages.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or language teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?+
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is CIP 16.0399 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within East Asian Languages (CIP 16.03). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in East Asian languages, literatures, and linguistics not listed above.
How many institutions offer East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 64 credentials in the year. That is 3.6% of all East Asian Languages graduates.
How much do East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,170 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader East Asian Languages field report median earnings of $29,219 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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