College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Kapolei, HI 2,519 Undergrads 51.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,410
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,327
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,969
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,327
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$53,969
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate51.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time59.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.3%
SAT Avg
985
SAT Reading
25th: 47357575th: 575
SAT Math
25th: 45852075th: 528
ACT Composite
25th: 151975th: 21

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$487k
+$20k
+$2k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$449k
-$17k
-$35k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$420k
-$47k
-$64k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
61
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-94%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-97%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • 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

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-67%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

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-59%
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

Certificates

Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,309
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Insurance
CertCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Security Science and Technology
CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,227
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,648
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,164
Earnings (4yr)
$50,343
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$12,981
Earnings (4yr)
$69,931
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$13,687
Earnings (4yr)
$53,891
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$15,610
Earnings (4yr)
$41,536
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.