Asian Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of the diverse civilizations, historical developments, and contemporary dynamics across the Asian continent. This program equips students with critical analytical tools to understand the complex interplay of culture, governance, economic systems, and social structures that shape societies throughout Asia and their global diasporas.
- Historical Development: Traces the evolution of Asian societies from ancient empires to modern nation-states, emphasizing pivotal events, cultural transformations, and long-term societal changes.
- Social Structures: Examines family systems, class dynamics, gender roles, and community organization across various Asian regions, highlighting both regional diversity and shared patterns.
- Political Systems: Analyzes governance models, state formation, policy-making, and the impact of colonialism, nationalism, and globalization on political institutions.
- Cultural Expressions: Investigates literature, visual arts, music, religion, and philosophical traditions as vital components of identity and social cohesion.
- Economic Transformations: Explores industrialization, trade networks, labor markets, and economic policies, with attention to regional disparities and global integration.
- Asian Diasporas: Studies the migration patterns, cultural adaptation, and transnational identities of Asian communities living outside Asia, including their influence on host and home societies.
Asian Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Asian Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Asian Studies degrees, including Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1062 | $84,290 | $51,130 - $164,650 | 11,430 | N/A |
Asian Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $61,920 in Florida to $113,070 in California—a 83% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Vermont, and Kansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 11,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Asian Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Asian Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Asian Studies is found at Florida International University (FIU) (49 graduates), University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) (49 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (39 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (35 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (24 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 700 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
49 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
35 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
11 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
9 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Furman University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | furman.edu |
| Randolph-Macon College (RMC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Ashland, Virginia | Private | rmc.edu |
| United States Naval Academy (USNA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Annapolis, Maryland | Public | usna.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
6 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Berea College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Berea, Kentucky | Private | berea.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
6 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Macalester College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | macalester.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Clark University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| College of the Holy Cross |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | holycross.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Lake Forest College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lake Forest, Illinois | Private | lakeforest.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| Calvin University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
4 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Pomona College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Claremont, California | Private | pomona.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| Rollins College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | rollins.edu |
| Knox College (Knox) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Galesburg, Illinois | Private | knox.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Skidmore College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Private | skidmore.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Lafayette College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Easton, Pennsylvania | Private | lafayette.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Carthage College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Private | carthage.edu |
| California State University (CSUDH) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Carson, California | Public | csudh.edu |
| Claremont McKenna College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | cmc.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
| DePauw University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Greencastle, Indiana | Private | depauw.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Other Award
|
1 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| Coe College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Private | coe.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Residency
|
1 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | St. Mary's City, Maryland | Public | smcm.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Carleton College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | carleton.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Hamilton College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Clinton, New York | Private | hamilton.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Union College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Schenectady, New York | Private | union.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Lewis & Clark College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Portland, Oregon | Private | lclark.edu |
| Elizabethtown College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania | Private | etown.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Asian Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Asian Studies degree?
Salaries for Asian Studies graduates vary by role and location. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $84,290 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $113,070 compared to $61,920 in Florida. Approximately 11,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Asian Studies programs?
Currently 105 accredited institutions offer Asian Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Florida International University (FIU) (49 graduates), University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) (49 graduates), and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (39 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Asian Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,242 in 2010 to a peak of 995 in 2020, before declining slightly to 705 in 2023-24. This represents a 43% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Asian Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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