University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Hawaii at Manoa at a Glance
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is a public land-grant research university in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaiʻi system and houses the main offices of the system. Most of the campus occupies the eastern half of the mouth of Mānoa Valley on Oʻahu, with the John A. Burns School of Medicine located adjacent to Kakaʻako Waterfront Park.
1907
119 years old
$632M
$632.1 million (2025) (system-wide)
20,012
320 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Hawaii at Manoa
Official admissions page$70
Testing policy
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa Worth It?
University of Hawaii at Manoa offers moderate value at $15,664/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $57,624, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 63% graduation rate means roughly 37% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Hawaii at Manoa compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #32 of 105 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #3 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #6 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #32 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 58 | $15,664 | $57,624 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Hawaii at Manoa's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Hawaii at Manoa
The highest-earning program at University of Hawaii at Manoa is Computer Engineering at $72,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language at $18,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of Hawaii at Manoa earns $72,700, while a Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language graduate earns $18,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $22,442 in median debt vs. $14,403 for Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,664/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $72,700 | $72,700 | $22,442 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,300 | $65,300 | $15,695 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,900 | $62,900 | $22,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $61,700 | $61,700 | $27,661 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,400 | $58,400 | $16,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $57,800 | $57,800 | $21,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $52,800 | $52,800 | $24,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $48,200 | $48,200 | $20,250 |
| Environmental Design | $47,900 | $47,900 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $18,124 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $44,900 | $44,900 | $15,000 |
| Computer Science | $44,600 | $44,600 | $17,049 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,300 | $44,300 | $18,375 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $41,700 | $41,700 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,300 | $40,300 | $20,801 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $39,700 | $39,700 | $20,493 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $38,500 | $38,500 | $18,175 |
| Economics | $38,100 | $38,100 | $15,000 |
| Marketing | $36,800 | $36,800 | $16,872 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $35,900 | $35,900 | $23,250 |
| Social Work | $32,900 | $32,900 | $20,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,000 | $31,000 | $20,424 |
| History | $30,400 | $30,400 | $18,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,100 | $30,100 | $17,101 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $29,700 | $29,700 | $15,984 |
| Area Studies | $29,200 | $29,200 | $19,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,200 | $29,200 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, General | $27,000 | $27,000 | $19,000 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $26,700 | $26,700 | $19,148 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,300 | $26,300 | $20,521 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $26,100 | $26,100 | $20,600 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $26,100 | $26,100 | $20,000 |
| Journalism | $26,000 | $26,000 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $25,000 | $25,000 | $23,250 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,000 | $25,000 | $20,663 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $24,900 | $24,900 | $23,375 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,900 | $24,900 | $18,990 |
| Sociology | $24,100 | $24,100 | $17,070 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,100 | $24,100 | $24,287 |
| Graphic Communications | $21,800 | $21,800 | $19,100 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | $18,800 | $18,800 | $14,403 |
Similar Colleges in HI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Honolulu, HI
- Student Body
- 15,029 students
- Admission Rate
- 87%
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,664
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,624
- Median Student Debt
- $18,500