East Asian Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 84 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for east asian studies students pursuing a degree.
Explore societal similarities and differences as seen through cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic lenses when you earn one of your degrees in anthropology from Southern New Hampshire University.
The east asian studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best East Asian Studies Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best East Asian Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Explore societal similarities and differences as seen through cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic lenses when you earn one of your degrees in anthropology from Southern New Hampshire University.
Best Schools for East Asian Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the east asian studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best east asian studies schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 20 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. East Asian Studies graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
See the full east asian studies program report for Duke University
Wesleyan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in east asian studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 10 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the east asian studies program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in east asian studies from Wesleyan University
A rank of #3 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for east asian studies. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 36 east asian studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the east asian studies program make about $95,207 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full east asian studies program report for Harvard University
Georgetown University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best east asian studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 29 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,851. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
See the full east asian studies program report for Georgetown University
Princeton University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in east asian studies, ranking #5. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 20 east asian studies students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their east asian studies degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Get the full east asian studies details for Princeton University
Stanford University earned the #6 position for east asian studies this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 33 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the east asian studies program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Get the full east asian studies details for Stanford University
Yale University earned the #7 position for east asian studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 14 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their east asian studies degree from Yale University earn around $55,618 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
More information about a degree in east asian studies from Yale University
University Of Southern California came in at #8 for east asian studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 10 east asian studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their east asian studies degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in east asian studies from University Of Southern California
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #9 for east asian studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 14 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the east asian studies program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,850 to complete this degree.
Get the full east asian studies details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #10 for east asian studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 25 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. East Asian Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $41,903 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $22,486 in student loans.
Read more about the east asian studies program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York University placed #11 among the best east asian studies schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 15 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the east asian studies program make about $51,233 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans.
See the full east asian studies program report for New York University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #12 spot for east asian studies this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 14 east asian studies degrees in the most recent data year. East Asian Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,332 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $22,050 in student loans.
Read more about the east asian studies program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Arizona ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best east asian studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 east asian studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their east asian studies degree from University Of Arizona earn around $31,480 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in east asian studies from University Of Arizona
Oberlin College came in at #14 for east asian studies this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 east asian studies students who graduated with this degree at Oberlin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, east asian studies degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $20,905. Typical student debt for the program is $24,951.
Read more about the east asian studies program at Oberlin College
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 84 schools evaluated.
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).
