College ROI

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University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Kapolei, HI 2,519 Undergrads 54.2% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$15,686
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,144
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,557
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,144
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,557
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,319
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate54.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age27.7
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 Recipients40.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time59.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.7%

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
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$493k
+$23k
+$7k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$464k
-$6k
-$23k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$437k
-$34k
-$50k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
56
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-78%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-88%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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-49%

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-49%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,285
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Insurance
CertCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$13,725
Earnings (4yr)
$56,227
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$14,139
Earnings (4yr)
$54,648
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,343
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,931
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
$14,292
Earnings (4yr)
$53,891
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$15,530
Earnings (4yr)
$41,536
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k

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. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. 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.