East Asian Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
East Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of the historical, social, political, cultural, and economic dimensions of East Asia. This program examines the region’s complex identities, dynamic transformations, and global influence through a rigorous, cross-cultural lens.
- History of East Asia: Traces the evolution of civilizations across China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Tibet, from ancient empires to modern nation-states, emphasizing key turning points and long-term developments.
- Political Systems and Governance: Analyzes state structures, governance models, and policy frameworks across East Asian nations, including the interplay between tradition, ideology, and contemporary reform.
- Cultural Expressions and Traditions: Investigates literature, art, philosophy, religion, and media to understand how cultural values shape identity, social norms, and national narratives.
- Economic Development and Global Integration: Explores industrialization, trade networks, technological innovation, and economic strategies that have driven growth in the region and its role in the global economy.
- Societal Structures and Social Change: Studies demographic trends, family systems, urbanization, gender roles, and social movements within diverse East Asian communities.
- East Asian Diasporas: Examines migration patterns, transnational communities, and the cultural adaptation of East Asian populations in North America, Europe, and other regions worldwide.
East Asian Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
East Asian Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with East 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 |
Salary Comparison
East 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 East Asian Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 65 institutions offering East 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 East Asian Studies is found at Harvard University (50 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (50 graduates), University of Arizona (35 graduates), Stanford University (33 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (29 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 581 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 | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
50 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 |
SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
29 |
SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
27 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35 |
New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
18 |
SAT: 1450-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
15 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
14 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1370-1510 ACT: 30-33 |
Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | N/A | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Colby College |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Waterville, Maine | Private | colby.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1390-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1020-1215 ACT: 19-25 |
Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-33 |
South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 21-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31 |
Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | SAT: 1188-1373 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | SAT: 1100-1320 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Other Award
|
5 |
SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28 |
Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1300-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
4 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 31-34 |
Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 23-29 |
Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1340-1470 ACT: 31-33 |
New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1065-1280 ACT: 23-27 |
Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1300-1470 ACT: 29-32 |
Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1105-1350 ACT: 25-31 |
Delaware, Ohio | Private | owu.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 31-33 |
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | N/A | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Occidental College (Oxy) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1360-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | oxy.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1080-1310 ACT: 25-30 |
Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Bates College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
Lewiston, Maine | Private | bates.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
2 | N/A | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1250-1450 ACT: 27-32 |
Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| Rhodes College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1290-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Memphis, Tennessee | Private | rhodes.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 33-34 |
Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34 |
Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1200-1430 ACT: 27-32 |
Appleton, Wisconsin | Private | lawrence.edu |
| Eckerd College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1150-1336 ACT: 24-29 |
Saint Petersburg, Florida | Private | eckerd.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Other Award
|
1 |
SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27 |
Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | ACT: 19-24 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | ACT: 23-28 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Ursinus College (Ursinus) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1160-1360 ACT: 28-32 |
Collegeville, Pennsylvania | Private | ursinus.edu |
| Austin College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1170-1340 ACT: 26-32 |
Sherman, Texas | Private | austincollege.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1320-1465 ACT: 30-33 |
San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about East Asian Studies programs
How much can I earn with a East Asian Studies degree?
Salaries for East 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 East Asian Studies programs?
Currently 65 accredited institutions offer East Asian Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Harvard University (50 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (50 graduates), and University of Arizona (35 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 East Asian Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 750 in 2010 to a peak of 643 in 2020, before declining slightly to 581 in 2023-24. This represents a 23% 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 East 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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