by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in East Asian Studies involves the study of East Asian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of East Asia, Defined As Including China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, Tibet, Related Borderlands And Island Groups, And Including The Study Of The East Asian Diasporas Overseas. Continue reading for the key facts every east asian studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering east asian studies programs.
Nationwide, east asian studies draws strong interest, with 581 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best East Asian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 65 schools to determine the best overall colleges for east asian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of east asian studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for East Asian Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations east asian studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a east asian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a east asian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several east asian studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 360 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 191 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 26 |
People currently working in careers related to east asian studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in east asian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying east asian studies opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to east asian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to east asian studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of east asian studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $54,317 |
| 5 years | $64,382 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for east asian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers east asian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 65 different east asian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased east asian studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in east asian studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,156 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 705 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 680 |
| Area Studies, Other | 630 |
| Latin American Studies | 498 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 317 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
| European Studies/Civilization | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
