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Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages

HUMANITIES Specialization

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduates pursue 3 occupations, with top roles paying $79,350/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

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About Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages

This page covers Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Languages and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages is a focused area of study within Languages. You will not have trouble finding it: 7 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 50 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Colleges Offering: 7
Graduates / Year: 50
Avg Net Price / yr: $10,781

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 50 students who complete Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages programs each year, the majority (61%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

61%

Bachelor's 61%

Associate's 13%

Certificate 11%

What Can You Do With a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Foreign Language and Literature Teachers pay the most at $79,350/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Foreign Language and Literature Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +0.2% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers

$79,350

$63K $103K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,600 openings/yr 20K employed nationally

Speaking Learning Strategies Instructing Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

↘ -0.2% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Secondary School Teacher

$72,040

$60K $93K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 63,500 openings/yr 1.1M employed nationally

Instructing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Learning Strategies Speaking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.

↗ +2.0% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Interpreters and Translators

$60,170

$47K $81K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 6,000 openings/yr 52K employed nationally

Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Writing Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.

Top Colleges for Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages

Only 3 colleges had enough verified data to appear here for Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages. They are sorted by graduate volume, not selectivity, so use them as a starting point rather than a ranking.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI · Public	31	86.6%	$15,664	$57,624
2	Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA · Public	6	Open	$4,824	$43,145
3	University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HI · Public	4	60.6%	$11,856	$47,856

Ranked by Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages shows 2 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 71,100 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Flexible credential paths Programs are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.

CONS

Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas 1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Limited program availability Only 7 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages degree?

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $79,350 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages?

7 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages and Languages?

Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages is the narrower of the two: Languages covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +0.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Interpreters and Translators are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.