Best Schools for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median of $30,626 within two years of graduation, ranking #214 out of 292 tracked majors — 14% below the median across all fields. There are 30 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 510 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Maryland-College Park graduates earn $50,856 while University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus graduates earn $15,922 — a $34,934 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

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.

30
Schools
$30,626
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#214
of 292 Majors
510
Graduates

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

Public (26 schools)
$29,511
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (4 schools)
$37,872
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $8,361 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
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,773
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 44.8%
#2
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$46,478
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 10.0%
#3
U

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$45,715
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 12.4%
#4
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 24.0%
#5
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.4%
#6
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$39,369
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 29.1%
#7
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$39,153
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.2%
#8
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,509
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 50.8%
#9
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,836
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 8.7%
#10
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $17,240
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 25.6%
#11
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,642
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 83.9%
#12
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$31,848
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,250
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 96.2%
#13
U

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$31,462
2yr Earnings
1yr: $18,654
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 69.7%
#14
U

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,509
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 57.8%
#15
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$31,305
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,738
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 90.2%
#16
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$30,988
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,689
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 41.6%
#17
U

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$30,984
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,311
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 85.1%
#18
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,026
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 42.5%
#19
E

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.3%
#20
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,737
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 47.1%
#21
B

Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.6%
#22
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$23,649
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,928
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 25.4%
#23
I

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$23,579
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,558
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 80.4%
#24
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$21,781
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,889
Grads: 51
Acceptance: 77.0%
#25
C

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.5%
#26
V

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 17.7%
#27
U

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,521
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 80.2%
#28
U

University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public

$19,455
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.9%
#29
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$15,922
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.4%
#30
U

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 Maryland-College Park ranks #1 for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics with median graduate earnings of $50,856 within two years. There are 30 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 $30,626 within two years of graduation. This is 14% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $15,922 to $50,856 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 54.9%. 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 $37,872 in early earnings vs $29,511 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

Get East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.