Best Schools for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median of $51,718 within four years of graduating, ranking #216 out of 283 tracked majors — 17% below the median across all fields. There are 37 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 568 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Rhode Island graduates earn $77,224 while The University of Texas at Austin graduates earn $38,455 — a $38,769 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is strong: East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates see an average 16% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

37
Schools
$51,718
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#216
of 283 Majors
568
Graduates

Public vs Private: East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Public (31 schools)
$50,743
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (6 schools)
$58,546
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $7,803 more in early earnings on average for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics by State

Top East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
University of Rhode Island logo

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$77,224
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
1yr: $51,745 (19)
Acceptance: 77.1%
#2
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$64,421
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $46,478 (12)
Acceptance: 10.0%
#3
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$61,603
4yr Earnings
40 grads
2yr: $31,848 (28)
1yr: $39,250 (34)
Acceptance: 96.2%
#4
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$60,939
4yr Earnings
44 grads
2yr: $30,988 (45)
1yr: $32,689 (46)
Acceptance: 41.6%
#5
University of Maryland-College Park logo

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$58,063
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $50,856 (18)
1yr: $30,773 (20)
Acceptance: 44.8%
#6
North Central College logo

North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private

$57,424
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 58.3%
#7
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$55,898
4yr Earnings
37 grads
2yr: $33,993 (26)
1yr: $26,836 (34)
Acceptance: 8.7%
#8
University of Puget Sound logo

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · Private

$53,792
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 76.3%
#9
CUNY Hunter College logo

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public

$53,509
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
1yr: $31,328 (18)
Acceptance: 54.0%
#10
University of Oregon logo

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$53,064
4yr Earnings
23 grads · small sample
2yr: $30,984 (31)
1yr: $26,311 (23)
Acceptance: 85.1%
#11
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$52,496
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,925 (26)
1yr: $30,642 (17)
Acceptance: 83.9%
#12
Rowan University logo

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$52,195
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 77.8%
#13
University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$51,826
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $29,685 (31)
1yr: $28,026 (21)
Acceptance: 42.5%
#14
Indiana University-Bloomington logo

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$50,989
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
2yr: $23,579 (18)
1yr: $22,558 (27)
Acceptance: 80.4%
#15
Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$47,331
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,305 (18)
1yr: $31,738 (23)
Acceptance: 90.2%
#16
University of Hawaii at Manoa logo

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$46,563
4yr Earnings
55 grads
2yr: $31,462 (54)
1yr: $18,654 (56)
Acceptance: 69.7%
#17
Ohio State University-Main Campus logo

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$46,527
4yr Earnings
54 grads
2yr: $34,704 (51)
1yr: $29,509 (50)
Acceptance: 50.8%
#18
University of North Carolina at Charlotte logo

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

$44,878
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
2yr: $20,140 (18)
1yr: $30,521 (23)
Acceptance: 80.2%
#19
Florida State University logo

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$44,502
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $23,649 (21)
1yr: $23,928 (21)
Acceptance: 25.4%
#20
Ball State University logo

Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public

$44,208
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $25,194 (15)
Acceptance: 71.6%
#21
Western Kentucky University logo

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public

$43,210
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 97.0%
#22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$42,569
4yr Earnings
45 grads
2yr: $21,781 (44)
1yr: $24,889 (51)
Acceptance: 77.0%
#23
Portland State University logo

Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public

$39,563
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
1yr: $26,377 (21)
Acceptance: 90.9%
#24
The University of Texas at Austin logo

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$38,455
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $39,369 (25)
Acceptance: 29.1%
#25
University of Notre Dame logo

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$45,715
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 12.4%
#26
University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 24.0%
#27
University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.4%
#28
Brigham Young University logo

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$39,153
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.2%
#29
University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
1yr: $17,240 (20)
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 25.6%
#30
University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
26 grads · small sample
1yr: $23,509 (26)
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 57.8%
#31
Eastern Michigan University logo

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.3%
#32
California State University-Long Beach logo

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
1yr: $23,737 (18)
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 47.1%
#33
CUNY Queens College logo

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.5%
#34
Vassar College logo

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 17.7%
#35
University at Albany logo

University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public

$19,455
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.9%
#36
University of Kentucky logo

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$15,922
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.4%
#37
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$15,922
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 49.7%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?
University of Rhode Island ranks #1 for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics with median graduate earnings of $77,224 within four years of graduating. There are 37 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn?
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn an average of $51,718 within four years of graduating. This is 17% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $38,455 to $77,224 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program?
The average acceptance rate across East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs is 58.9%. The most selective program is at University of California-Los Angeles with a 8.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics?
Private East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs average $58,546 in early earnings vs $50,743 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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