[Korean Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/east-asian-languages/korean/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for korean language & literature students.
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Finding the Best Value Korean Language & Literature School for You
The korean language & literature program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Korean Language & Literature Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Korean Language & Literature 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.
Leading the list is University Of California Irvine, our #1 best value for korean language & literature in the United States. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the korean language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, korean language & literature degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Community College District earned it the #2 place for korean language & literature. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the korean language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, korean language & literature degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Hawaii At Manoa one of the best values for korean language & literature. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $18,076 in student loans. Korean Language & Literature graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $24,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #4 place for korean language & literature. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $13,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, korean language & literature degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $23,980. Set against $13,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value korean language & literature schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Korean Language & Literature graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Los Angeles City College landed the #6 spot for korean language & literature value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $10,763 to complete the korean language & literature program here. Korean Language & Literature graduates of Los Angeles City College earn a median of $83,699 early in their careers. Set against $10,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value korean language & literature schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career korean language & literature graduates make about $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Georgia State University earned the #8 position for value in korean language & literature this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,091 to complete the korean language & literature program here. Early-career korean language & literature graduates make about $51,103. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in korean language & literature this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career korean language & literature graduates make about $28,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University placed #10 among the best values for korean language & literature. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the korean language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, korean language & literature degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #11 position for value in korean language & literature this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Korean Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Early-career korean language & literature graduates make about $53,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Middlebury College came in at #12 for value in korean language & literature this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. Typical student debt for korean language & literature graduates is $15,948. Early-career korean language & literature graduates make about $54,713. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value korean language & literature schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Korean Language & Literature Related Rankings by Major
Korean Language & Literature is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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).
[Korean Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/east-asian-languages/korean/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
