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University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, HI 2,160 Undergrads 43.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,173
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,856
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,763
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,856
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$49,763
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate43.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
60.6%
SAT Avg
1,028
SAT Reading
25th: 49056575th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 45554075th: 565
ACT Composite
25th: 151975th: 22
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$452k
-$15k
-$33k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$409k
-$58k
-$75k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$375k
-$91k
-$109k
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-177%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-143%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-151%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-83%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agriculture, General
CertCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
CertCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
CertCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
CertCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
CertCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CertCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
CertCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
CertCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,448
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
CertCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,561
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,061
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,096
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,470
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Astronomy and Astrophysics
BachCIP: 4002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,200
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,330
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,505
Earnings (4yr)
$41,750
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,185
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$20,115
Earnings (4yr)
$39,528
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,507
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,182
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,534
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
BachCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$131,134
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$552k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,478
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,751
Earnings (4yr)
$51,061
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,027
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,662
Earnings (4yr)
$39,582
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,841
Earnings (4yr)
$48,783
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Master's Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Historic Preservation and Conservation
MastCIP: 3012
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$36,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,469
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,760
Earnings (4yr)
$59,655
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Graduate Certificates
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
Gr-CertCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$218,140
Earnings (4yr)
$131,918
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.