Best institutions to study Japanese Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the Japanese language.
117 U.S. institutions graduated 783 Japanese Language and Literature students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 16.0302, a specialization of East Asian Languages (CIP 16.03), and leads most directly to the Interpreters and Translators occupation (BLS SOC 27-3091).
About Japanese Language and Literature programs
A program that focuses on the Japanese language. Includes instruction in philology; Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Japanese; dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Japanese Language and Literature program, part of the East Asian Languages field, focuses on the Japanese language and its literature. Students engage in comprehensive instruction covering philology, Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Japanese, as well as dialects and practical applications in various settings, including business and technology. This program is designed for those interested in deepening their understanding of Japanese culture and language.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking and learning strategies, preparing graduates for effective communication and translation in diverse contexts.
Credentials awarded
What Japanese Language and Literature graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree464 graduates / yr · 77 institutions59%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year167 graduates / yr · 23 institutions21%
- Associate's degree121 graduates / yr · 21 institutions16%
- Master's degree21 graduates / yr · 6 institutions2.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship6 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.8%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Japanese Language and Literature completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 807 |
| 2013 | 829 |
| 2014 | 760 |
| 2015 | 750 |
| 2016 | 759 |
| 2017 | 713 |
| 2018 | 764 |
| 2019 | 910 |
| 2020 | 857 |
| 2021 | 891 |
| 2022 | 925 |
| 2023 | 756 |
| 2024 | 784 |
| 2025 | 783 |
Top 50 institutions for Japanese Language and Literature, 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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 89% | — | $23,701 |
| 2 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicBachelor's | 33 | 64% | — | $24,451 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sDoctoral | 27 | 90% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 23 | 86% | — | $28,997 |
| 5 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 30% | — | — |
| 6 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 21 | 61% | — | — |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicBachelor's | 20 | 69% | — | $24,825 |
| 8 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 20 | 85% | — | — |
| 9 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 19 | 53% | — | $25,262 |
| 10 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 38% | — | — |
| 11 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 18 | 88% | — | $28,109 |
| 12 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 49% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor's | 14 | 72% | — | $27,331 |
| 14 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 45% | — | — |
| 15 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 70% | — | — |
| 16 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 57% | — | — |
| 17 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 13 | 83% | — | — |
| 18 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CAPublicAssociate's | 12 | 35% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 83% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor's | 11 | 65% | — | — |
| 21 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 10 | 46% | — | — |
| 22 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 65% | — | — |
| 23 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 9 | 93% | — | $23,980 |
| 24 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 9 | 48% | — | — |
| 25 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 9 | 50% | — | $19,861 |
| 26 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicBachelor's | 9 | 61% | — | — |
| 27 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAssociate's | 9 | 20% | — | — |
| 28 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate's | 8 | 42% | — | — |
| 29 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 53% | — | — |
| 30 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 40% | — | — |
| 31 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate's | 7 | 48% | — | — |
| 32 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicBachelor's | 7 | 58% | — | — |
| 33 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 7 | 91% | $20,918 | — |
| 34 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 60% | — | — |
| 35 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 87% | — | — |
| 36 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 6 | 56% | — | — |
| 37 | Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 29% | — | — |
| 38 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 76% | — | $17,464 |
| 39 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor's | 6 | 74% | — | — |
| 40 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 6 | 60% | — | — |
| 41 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 76% | $22,907 | — |
| 42 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 59% | — | — |
| 43 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 69% | — | — |
| 44 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 53% | — | — |
| 45 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 93% | — | — |
| 46 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 76% | — | — |
| 47 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 83% | — | — |
| 48 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 69% | — | — |
| 49 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicBachelor's | 5 | 62% | — | — |
| 50 | Lansing Community College Lansing, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 25% | — | — |
* 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 30 states
Where Japanese Language and Literature graduates come from. Each state links to all East Asian Languages programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3091, Interpreters and Translators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Japanese Language and Literature program can pursue careers as interpreters and translators, secondary school teachers, or postsecondary foreign language instructors. The job outlook for these roles shows little to no change, with an estimated 6,900 annual openings and a median wage of $59,440, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 16.0302
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 Japanese Language and Literature 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).
- 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
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 16.0399partial data64 graduates / yr6 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 degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an interpreter, translator, or a foreign language teacher.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 6,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Japanese Language and Literature?+
Japanese Language and Literature is CIP 16.0302 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within East Asian Languages (CIP 16.03). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the Japanese language. Includes instruction in philology; Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Japanese; dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
How many institutions offer Japanese Language and Literature programs?+
117 U.S. institutions reported Japanese Language and Literature graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 30 states, awarding 783 credentials in the year. That is 44.0% of all East Asian Languages graduates.
How much do Japanese Language and Literature graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Interpreters and Translators occupation, which Japanese Language and Literature 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 $27,328 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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