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 |
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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
29 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
14 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Colby College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Waterville, Maine | Private | colby.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
5 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Other Award
|
5 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
4 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Delaware, Ohio | Private | owu.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Occidental College (Oxy) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Los Angeles, California | Private | oxy.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
2 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Bates College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lewiston, Maine | Private | bates.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
2 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| Rhodes College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | rhodes.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
2 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Private | lawrence.edu |
| Eckerd College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Petersburg, Florida | Private | eckerd.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Ursinus College (Ursinus) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | Private | ursinus.edu |
| Austin College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Sherman, Texas | Private | austincollege.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | 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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