College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges in Hawaii
Hawaii’s gorgeous scenery, tropical climate, and beautiful beaches make it tourist hotspot. It’s also a stunning and unique place to earn an undergraduate degree.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Brigham Young University-Hawaii (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$381,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$85,400 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$20,200 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: University of Hawaii at Manoa (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$347,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$120,000 | Graduation Rate:62% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$27,800 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: Hawaii Pacific University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$318,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$203,000 | Graduation Rate:45% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$40,300 |
| Rank:4 | School Name:University of Hawaii at Manoa (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$258,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$208,000 | Graduation Rate:62% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$27,800 |
| Rank:5 | School Name:Chaminade University of Honolulu (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$113,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$185,000 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$31,000 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: University of Hawaii at Hilo (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$89,200 | Total 4 Year Cost:$84,800 | Graduation Rate:42% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$36,100 |
| Rank:7 | School Name:University of Hawaii at Hilo (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$37,400 | Total 4 Year Cost:$137,000 | Graduation Rate:42% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$36,100 |
| Rank:8 | School Name:University of Hawaii-West Oahu (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:- | Total 4 Year Cost:- | Graduation Rate:33% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,900 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:University of Hawaii-West Oahu (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:- | Total 4 Year Cost:- | Graduation Rate:33% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,900 |
If you are considering attending a college in Hawaii, you will want to think about both the cost of attending a school and how well different schools prepare you for your future career goals. Payscale’s Hawaii College ROI Report ranks which school is going to provide you with the best college return on investment on the island.
You will find several numbers on Payscale’s rankings, but the most significant statistics are the net 20-year return on investment or ROI. (Note that you can calculate ROIs based on whether you live on or off campus and whether or not you will receive financial aid to help pay for your tuition.) These two figures tell you how much more money a graduate from a particular school can expect to earn than a high school graduate over a 20-year period. The best value colleges Hawaii has to offer are those with high net 20-year ROIs.
We only have a few entries on our college ROI report Hawaii, so this makes choosing the best option fairly easy. A school that frequently occupies a top spot in our rankings is the private Hawaii Pacific University, located in Honolulu. This university serves roughly 7,000 students, making it the largest private university in the central Pacific. It’s also noted for its diverse student body, representing nearly 80 countries.
Another option is the University of Hawaii at Manoa, also located in Honolulu. In all, U.H. is home to roughly 20,000 ‘Rainbow Warriors,’ as the students are nicknamed. The school offers bachelor degrees in 93 fields of study.
Hawaii is an expensive state to live in, but in terms of college return on investment, Hawaii schools fare quite well. Its schools give students an opportunity to study several different subjects. Hawaii Pacific University has programs for Management and Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism Industry Management, History and Psychology. The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers studies in Social Work, Hawaiian Knowledge, Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Business and Architecture. Your choice of major has a huge impact on your future earning potential, so your ROI will vary depending on what you study. Our general college ROI rankings give you a starting point to estimate how much you will earn with a college degree from each school, which makes it easier to estimate how much you can afford to pay in tuition.
The Payscale.com College ROI rankings are a great tool to help you determine the value of college education Hawaii colleges offer students.
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