East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduates earn a median $51,642 four years after finishing — $3,282/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 20.6 years. Federal data pools 161 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,532 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ranks #155 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 24% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Rhode Island | RI | $77,224 |
| 2 | University of Southern California | CA | $64,421 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University | CA | $61,603 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis | CA | $60,939 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $58,063 |
| 6 | North Central College | IL | $57,424 |
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $55,898 |
| 8 | University of Puget Sound | WA | $53,792 |
| 9 | CUNY Hunter College | NY | $53,509 |
| 10 | University of Oregon | OR | $53,064 |
| 11 | Michigan State University | MI | $52,496 |
| 12 | Rowan University | NJ | $52,195 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics pay grow after graduation?
From $28,109 one year out to $51,642 four years out — a $23,533 climb, or 84% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics each year?
About 1,532 bachelor's graduates a year across 161 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.