East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The most striking feature of UH Manoa's East Asian Languages program is the dramatic 84% earnings jump from year one to year four—graduates go from $24,451 to nearly $45,000, suggesting that initial low-paying roles or further training give way to substantially better opportunities. While first-year earnings lag behind the national median by about $3,000, by year four graduates are earning 64% more than the typical first-year graduate in this field nationally. The relatively modest debt load of $18,076 means graduates carry less than a year's worth of their fourth-year salary, making the early struggle more manageable.

That said, the 20th percentile national ranking tells you this isn't a high-earning field to begin with—East Asian languages programs typically lead to modest middle-class incomes, not six-figure careers. The program's 60th percentile ranking within Hawaii is somewhat misleading since UH Manoa appears to be the only school in the state offering this major. For context, your child would be entering a career path where $45,000 at the mid-career point is normal, not disappointing.

If your child is genuinely passionate about East Asian languages and culture, the numbers here aren't prohibitive—the debt is manageable and earnings do grow substantially. But if they're uncertain about the field, the low initial earnings and modest long-term ceiling mean they need a clear plan for how this degree connects to specific career opportunities, whether in translation, education, international business, or government work.