Best institutions to study Asian-American Studies
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of Asian population groups who have immigrated to the United States and Canada, or sought refugee asylum, from the colonial period to the present, and including Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Korean-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Cambodian-Americans, and others.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 129 Asian-American Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0206, a specialization of Ethnic (CIP 05.02), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About Asian-American Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of Asian population groups who have immigrated to the United States and Canada, or sought refugee asylum, from the colonial period to the present, and including Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Korean-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Cambodian-Americans, and others.
See also: 05.0103 - Asian Studies/Civilization.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Asian-American Studies program, a subset of Ethnic Studies, delves into the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of Asian populations who have immigrated to the United States and Canada. This program encompasses the experiences of various groups, including Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Korean-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, and Cambodian-Americans, from the colonial period to the present.
Students in this program develop core skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics related to race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of Asian-American experiences.
Credentials awarded
What Asian-American Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree64 graduates / yr · 13 institutions50%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year47 graduates / yr · 2 institutions36%
- Master's degree18 graduates / yr · 4 institutions14%
Graduates over time
Asian-American Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 159 |
| 2013 | 166 |
| 2014 | 131 |
| 2015 | 119 |
| 2016 | 112 |
| 2017 | 112 |
| 2018 | 96 |
| 2019 | 136 |
| 2020 | 137 |
| 2021 | 108 |
| 2022 | 137 |
| 2023 | 118 |
| 2024 | 134 |
| 2025 | 129 |
Top 16 institutions for Asian-American Studies, 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 Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 46 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 2 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 14 | 93% | — | $29,914 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 50% | — | $31,001 |
| 4 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 10 | 87% | — | $26,712 |
| 5 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 86% | — | $32,563 |
| 6 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 83% | — | $32,341 |
| 7 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor's | 7 | 82% | — | — |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 57% | — | $26,767 |
| 9 | Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 69% | — | $27,726 |
| 11 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 92% | $12,032 | $41,156 |
| 12 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 95% | $14,799 | $39,012 |
| 13 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 94% | $16,081 | $40,120 |
| 14 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 2 | 76% | — | — |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 68% | — | $40,719 |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ethnic field (CIP 05.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Asian-American Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9 | 68 | University of California - Los Angeles14 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 46 | University of Wisconsin - Madison46 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 9 | Binghamton University7 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | Northwestern University2 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Amherst College2 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion1 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | Vanderbilt University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Asian-American Studies program can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0206
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Asian-American Studies 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
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Ethnic specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ethnic (CIP 05.02).
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesCIP 05.02992,170 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Women's StudiesCIP 05.02072,141 graduates / yr300 institutions
- African-American/CIP 05.0201
Black Studies 764 graduates / yr164 institutions - Disability StudiesCIP 05.0210583 graduates / yr28 institutions
- American Indian/CIP 05.0202
Native American Studies 528 graduates / yr87 institutions - Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/CIP 05.0203
Chicano Studies 510 graduates / yr54 institutions - Ethnic StudiesCIP 05.0200505 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Deaf StudiesCIP 05.0211474 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Gay/CIP 05.0208
Lesbian Studies 75 graduates / yr17 institutions - Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a postsecondary teacher in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Asian-American Studies?+
Asian-American Studies is CIP 05.0206 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ethnic (CIP 05.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of Asian population groups who have immigrated to the United States and Canada, or sought refugee asylum, from the colonial period to the present, and including Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Korean-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Cambodian-Americans, and others.
How many institutions offer Asian-American Studies programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Asian-American Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 129 credentials in the year. That is 1.6% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Asian-American Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Asian-American Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ethnic field report median earnings of $32,341 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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