Languages and linguistics · bachelor's degree

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics major: colleges and pay

141 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics, 1,320 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $35,335 a year after graduating and $51,826 four years after.

Colleges offering it141

Graduates in 2023-241,320

Typical median debt$18,116

Typical earnings 1 yr after$35,335

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$51,826

Earnings to debt2x

Median earnings four years after graduation at each college's program

Colleges where east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics graduates earn the most

Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.

University of Rhode Island$77,224

University of Southern California$64,421

San Francisco State University$61,603

University of California-Davis$60,939

University of Maryland-College Park$58,063

University of California-Los Angeles$55,898

University of Puget Sound$53,792

CUNY Hunter College$53,509

University of Oregon$53,064

Michigan State University$52,496

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI	30	$50,574	$77,224	$19,325
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	16	n/a	$64,421	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	16	$38,298	$61,603	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	25	$33,051	$60,939	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	14	n/a	$58,063	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	29	$27,779	$55,898	$15,000
University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA	11	$37,041	$53,792	n/a
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	35	n/a	$53,509	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	19	$27,528	$53,064	$18,116
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	17	n/a	$52,496	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	48	$45,229	$51,826	$12,398
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	33	$26,543	$50,989	$17,300
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	28	n/a	$47,331	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	66	$35,335	$46,563	$19,500
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	44	$37,522	$46,527	$18,068
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	19	$35,492	$44,878	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	18	n/a	$44,502	n/a
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY	10	n/a	$43,210	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	30	$36,947	$42,569	$20,056
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	10	$40,424	$38,455	n/a

Largest east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics programs

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	66	$35,335	$46,563	$19,500
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	48	$45,229	$51,826	$12,398
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	44	$37,522	$46,527	$18,068
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	35	n/a	$53,509	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	33	$26,543	$50,989	$17,300
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI	30	$50,574	$77,224	$19,325
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	30	$36,947	$42,569	$20,056
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	29	$27,779	$55,898	$15,000
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	28	n/a	$47,331	n/a
Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT	27	$26,323	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	26	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	25	$33,051	$60,939	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	19	$27,528	$53,064	$18,116

Graduate degrees in east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics

Master's: 29 programs; Doctoral: 23 programs. Compare graduate programs.

Every college with a east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics major

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College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI	30	$50,574	$77,224	$19,325
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	16	n/a	$64,421	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	16	$38,298	$61,603	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	25	$33,051	$60,939	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	14	n/a	$58,063	n/a
North Central CollegeNaperville, IL	4	n/a	$57,424	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	29	$27,779	$55,898	$15,000
University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA	11	$37,041	$53,792	n/a
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	35	n/a	$53,509	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	19	$27,528	$53,064	$18,116
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	17	n/a	$52,496	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	48	$45,229	$51,826	$12,398
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	33	$26,543	$50,989	$17,300
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	28	n/a	$47,331	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	66	$35,335	$46,563	$19,500
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	44	$37,522	$46,527	$18,068
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	19	$35,492	$44,878	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	18	n/a	$44,502	n/a
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN	7	n/a	$44,208	n/a
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY	10	n/a	$43,210	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	30	$36,947	$42,569	$20,056
Portland State UniversityPortland, OR	9	$40,597	$39,563	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	10	$40,424	$38,455	n/a
CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY	17	$34,094	n/a	n/a
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA	15	$33,875	n/a	n/a
St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN	15	$31,806	n/a	n/a
Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT	27	$26,323	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	9	$23,681	n/a	n/a
American UniversityWashington, DC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bates CollegeLewiston, ME	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Beloit CollegeBeloit, WI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bennington CollegeBennington, VT	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Monterey BaySeaside, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Centre CollegeDanville, KY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Chapman UniversityOrange, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead, MN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Guilford CollegeGreensboro, NC	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Linfield UniversityMcMinnville, OR	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VT	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pacific UniversityForest Grove, OR	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Reed CollegePortland, OR	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Simon's Rock at Bard CollegeBarrytown, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	0	n/a	n/a	$20,750
The University of FindlayFindlay, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of MontanaMissoula, MT	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Union CollegeSchenectady, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
United States Military AcademyWest Point, NY	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, MD	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	26	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MississippiUniversity, MS	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of RochesterRochester, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of TulsaTulsa, OK	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of VermontBurlington, VT	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of the PacificStockton, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Utah State UniversityLogan, UT	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	0	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics majors make?

Graduates of the typical east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics program earned a median of $35,335 one year after graduation and $51,826 four years after, in 2024 dollars.

Which college has the highest-paid east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics graduates?

University of Rhode Island, where graduates earned a median of $77,224 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).

How many colleges offer a east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics major?

141 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in east asian languages, literatures, and linguistics in 2022-23 or 2023-24.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.