by our College Data Analytics Team
[East Asian Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/east-asian-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong east asian studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for east asian studies students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the east asian studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in east asian studies, no school beat Yale University this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the east asian studies program here. East Asian Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $55,618 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in east asian studies will find it at Wesleyan University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. East Asian Studies graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career east asian studies graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Connecticut College earned it the #3 place for east asian studies. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. Students from in state pay about $67,242 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,220 to complete the east asian studies program here. East Asian Studies graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $43,358 early in their careers. Set against $21,220 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Connecticut College admits about 37% of applicants.
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This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
