2026 Best Value East Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[East Asian Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/east-asian-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong east asian studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for east asian studies students.
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2026 Best Value East Asian Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the east asian studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value East Asian Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for east asian studies in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $16,984 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $16,984 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value east asian studies schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,710 to complete the east asian studies program here. East Asian Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for east asian studies. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $22,050 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in east asian studies will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #4. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans. Early-career east asian studies graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in east asian studies will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the east asian studies program here. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford placed #6 among the best values for east asian studies. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $20,552 in student loans. East Asian Studies graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $50,637 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Oberlin College came in at #7 for value in east asian studies this year. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $20,905. Set against $24,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.