Hawaii Colleges: Tuition, Debt & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Hawaii: median public in-state tuition $3,268 (-40.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $52,209 (-3.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 82.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,750 (-12.5% vs U.S.) 41,568 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Total college enrollment: 41,568 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $3,268 (-40.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $52,209 (-3.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 82.5% (-5.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $8,556 (-14.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,750 (-12.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750. Debt rank: #16 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 5
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 42.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.1%
- Earnings rank: #29 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #40 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Tuition rank: #6 of 48 states (lower sticker = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #16 nationally of 48; #3 in Far West of 5 (lower debt = better rank)
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Higher education in Hawaii includes public research universities, private colleges, and community colleges serving transfer students and workforce training. About 41,568 students enrolled statewide in federal data, with median public in-state tuition near $3,268, and community college tuition averaging about $3,226. Major campuses include University of Hawaii at Manoa and Brigham Young University-Hawaii. The tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, debt, and employment outcomes for 10 reporting campuses against U.S. and Far West medians.
Hawaii vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | $3,268 | $8,556 | $11,750 | 42.0% | 41,568 |
| Far West (region median) | $3,284 | $9,128 | $11,750 | 53.6% | 2,696,394 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | $52,209 | 82.5% | 73.1% | 5.3% | — | 74.7% | 0.35 |
| Far West (region median) | $64,010 | 89.6% | 80.7% | 3.8% | — | 75.4% | 0.32 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Hawaii vs peer states (Far West region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | $3,268 | $8,556 | $11,750 | 42.0% | 41,568 | $52,209 | 82.5% |
| Nevada (NV) | $4,358 | $10,359 | $9,500 | 38.0% | 95,795 | $57,826 | 87.1% |
| Oregon (OR) | $6,345 | $10,548 | $13,595 | 55.1% | 159,039 | $60,172 | 89.5% |
| Washington (WA) | $5,356 | $9,863 | $13,653 | 46.4% | 226,333 | $63,538 | 90.2% |
| California (CA) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 | $65,986 | 90.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Hawaii
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $52,343 | 77.9% | 70.4% | 5.9% | — | 74.2% |
| Public | 3 | $52,075 | 86.6% | 78.0% | 4.7% | — | 75.1% |
Educational attainment context (Hawaii)
U.S. Census ACS 2024 — adults age 25+.
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 36.1% of adults 25+
- Some college, no degree (ACS): 19.8%
Program completions produced in Hawaii (IPEDS 2024)
Award completions by CIP family — supply-side context for nursing, cosmetology, and other pathways. Not placement rates.
| Program area | Completions | Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38) | 621 | 8 |
| Cosmetology (CIP 12.04) | 212 | 4 |
| Computer Science (CIP 11.01) | 203 | 7 |
| Business (CIP 52.01) | 58 | 2 |
State workforce wages (BLS OEWS May 2024)
Context for graduate earnings — not a unemployment rate for recent grads (CEW state series not in repo).
- All occupations median annual wage: $53,260
- Education occupations (SOC 25-xxxx) median: $55,760
Program-level earnings in Hawaii (Scorecard)
- Median 1-yr post-completion program earnings (across reporting campuses): $78,508
- Median 4-yr post-completion: $109,844
- Campuses with program earnings data: 8
Public 4-year in-state tuition trend: Hawaii
Median published in-state tuition, public 4-year institutions. Source: College Scorecard multi-year pull.
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 64.3%, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 55.4%, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 52.6%, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 49.5%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 48.4%, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 34.9%, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.3%, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 86.6%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 85.7%, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 79.3%, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 77.9%, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 72.9%, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Top 6 most selective colleges in Hawaii (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 47.0%, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 60.6%, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 85.9%, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 86.6%, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 91.4%, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 6, Admission Rate, 95.3%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $94,216, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $84,401, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,125, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,892, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $52,079, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $41,461, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Top 5 colleges in Hawaii by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $131,134, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $120,258, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $112,964, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $108,622, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $69,931, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,773, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,660, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,701, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,352, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,316, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,204, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,836, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,625, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,190, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,369, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,702, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,883, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $59,593, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,624, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,343, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,075, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,064, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,856, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $194,332, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $189,690, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $157,054, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $151,041, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $117,436, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $107,938, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Top 6 most affordable colleges in Hawaii (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $10,327, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 2, Net Price, $11,856, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 3, Net Price, $15,664, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 4, Net Price, $16,774, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 5, Net Price, $28,856, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 6, Net Price, $29,657, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Top 6 colleges in Hawaii by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 80.7%, University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 78.0%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 73.5%, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 72.8%, University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 70.4%, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 56.5%, Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
In-state tuition: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Hawaii median in-state tuition is $3,268, -40.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Hawaii is $11,750 (-12.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750. Rank: #16 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 5.
Median earnings (10 years out): Hawaii vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Hawaii center around $52,209 (-3.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 82.5% at the median Hawaii campus (-5.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Hawaii median public in-state tuition is $3,268, about -40.7% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is -0.5%.
Median graduate debt is $11,750 (-12.5% below the U.S. median of $13,432, and 0.0% vs the Far West regional median of $11,750). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #16 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 5 (1 = lowest median debt).
On published in-state tuition, Hawaii ranks #6 nationally (1 = lowest median sticker among states with data).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Hawaii are $52,209, about -3.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 82.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-5.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 74.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Hawaii ranks earnings #29 and employment proxy #40 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Hawaii at Manoa (87.3%), University of Hawaii-West Oahu (86.6%), Hawaii Pacific University (85.7%), University of Hawaii at Hilo (79.3%), Brigham Young University-Hawaii (77.9%), Chaminade University of Honolulu (72.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Hawaii, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $52,343 (3 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $52,075 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Hawaii is 42.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
National Student Clearinghouse data cite roughly 100,722 residents with some college but no credential in Hawaii (YoY change 3.50%). That stock of incomplete credentials sits alongside the completion and employment metrics above.
City profiles in this state
Metro and city aggregates for places with at least three reporting campuses in the College Scorecard.
FAQ
How much does college cost in Hawaii?
Median in-state tuition among reporting campuses in Hawaii is $3,268 and median net price is $8,556. U.S. medians are $5,512 (tuition) and $9,967 (net price). Hawaii tuition is about -40.7% vs the national median; net price is -14.2%.
What is typical student debt for graduates in Hawaii?
Median federal loan debt among completers in Hawaii is $11,750 vs a U.S. median of $13,432 (Hawaii ranks #16 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do graduates earn in Hawaii?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Hawaii campuses reporting to the College Scorecard is $52,209 vs $54,323 nationally. Six-year medians are $45,026.
What share of Hawaii graduates are working after college?
The federal employment-outcome proxy used on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 82.5% in Hawaii vs 87.9% nationally.
How many colleges are in Hawaii?
This profile aggregates 10 campuses with cost or outcomes data in Hawaii and roughly 41,568 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private colleges are in Hawaii?
Among campuses with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 3 public, 3 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top colleges in Hawaii?
Rankings on this page are drawn from College Scorecard medians; standouts include highest 150%-time graduation rate: University of Hawaii at Manoa; highest 10-year earnings: Hawaii Pacific University; lowest net price among large campuses: University of Hawaii-West Oahu. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Hawaii?
Among 22 campuses in Hawaii, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Hawaii Pacific University; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1), Other Protestant (1).
How does Hawaii compare to its Census region?
Hawaii is in the Far West region. Regional median in-state tuition is $3,284 and median debt is $11,750 vs $3,268 tuition and $11,750 debt in Hawaii.
Sources & related
- U.S. national benchmarks
- All college profiles
- Hawaii trade school profile
- States & cities with the most colleges
- Compare University of Hawaii at Manoa vs University of Hawaii-West Oahu vs University of Hawaii at Hilo
- Hawaii college costs drilldown
- Top colleges in Hawaii by ROI
- Student loan debt by state
- College enrollment statistics
- Supplemental: Census ACS attainment, IPEDS completions, BLS OEWS, NSC SCNC, tuition trends
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON