by our College Data Analytics Team
[Asian-American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/asian-american-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong asian-american studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value asian-american studies schools.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in History - American History
Learn to evaluate and discuss the topics and events that made an impact on America's history with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in History - American History
Understand the impact of major political, cultural, social and economic shifts in American society with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Where you study asian-american studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in History - American History
Learn to evaluate and discuss the topics and events that made an impact on America's history with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in History - American History
Understand the impact of major political, cultural, social and economic shifts in American society with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the asian-american studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best value for a degree in asian-american studies in the United States. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $10,492. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $41,156. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Asian-American Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,767 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Long Beach one of the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $12,187. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $27,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in asian-american studies will find it at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $18,998 in student loans. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $26,712. Set against $18,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Students looking for strong value in asian-american studies will find it at San Francisco State University, which ranked #5. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,875 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Asian-American Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $31,001 early in their careers. Set against $17,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
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Arizona State University landed the #6 spot for asian-american studies value this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $55,876. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #7 among the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $32,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #8 spot for asian-american studies value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #9 for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $15,740 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $15,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #10 position for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $15,000. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $37,581 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Davis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,563. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #12 position for value in asian-american studies this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $23,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #14 position for value in asian-american studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $19,750. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $28,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #16 among the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $26,965 in student loans. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #17 position for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Asian-American Studies is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
