University of Hawaii at Hilo — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Hawaii at Hilo charges a net price of $11,856/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $47,424. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,856, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, University of Hawaii at Hilo does not clear its cost — it ranks #6 of 13 Hawaii colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,856/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $47,424 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,856 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$504/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$57,504 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Hawaii at Hilo's own numbers. Net price $11,856 × 4 years = $47,424 total. Median earnings $47,856 fall $504 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $47,424 bill in about 4.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Hawaii at Hilo students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $47,856 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Hawaii at Hilo students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $47,424 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $98,800 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Hawaii at Hilo expensive compared with other Hawaii colleges?
Its $11,856 net price runs $1,529 above the $10,327 median across the 13 Hawaii colleges we profile, or $6,116 more across the full degree.