Best Colleges for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs prepare students for careers in translation, education, international business, and cultural analysis. With only 30 schools nationwide offering this specialized major, graduates enter a niche field where language proficiency and cultural expertise are highly valued. Recent graduates typically earn around $30,626 annually, though earnings vary significantly based on career path and geographic location.

When evaluating programs, students should prioritize institutions with native-speaking faculty, study abroad opportunities in East Asia, and strong connections to cultural institutions. Look for programs offering multiple East Asian languages, interdisciplinary coursework combining literature with linguistics, and access to primary source materials. The best programs also provide practical experience through internships at museums, cultural centers, or international organizations.

Schools Ranked

$33,088

Avg. Program Earnings

78.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$50,856	88.6%	public
2	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$46,478	92.0%	private-nonprofit
3	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$45,715	96.8%	private-nonprofit
4	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$42,682	89.3%	public
5	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$42,682	91.5%	public
6	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$39,369	87.6%	public
7	Brigham Young University Provo, Utah	$39,153	82.2%	private-nonprofit
8	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$34,704	87.7%	public
9	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$33,993	92.7%	public
10	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$32,925	86.0%	public
11	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan	$32,925	82.2%	public
12	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$31,848	50.1%	public
13	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$31,462	62.6%	public
14	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts	$31,314	83.2%	public
15	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$31,305	67.8%	public
16	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$30,988	85.1%	public
17	University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon	$30,984	71.5%	public
18	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$29,685	83.7%	public
19	Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan	$28,598	45.5%	public
20	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$25,194	63.3%	public
21	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$25,194	69.9%	public
22	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$23,649	83.0%	public
23	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$23,579	81.2%	public
24	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$21,781	84.8%	public
25	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$20,140	60.2%	public