University of Hawaii at Hilo vs University of Hawaii Maui College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Hawaii at Hilo comes closer — median earnings $47,856 against a $47,424 total, vs $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Hawaii at Hilo | University of Hawaii Maui College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,856 | $8,061 |
| Total net cost | $47,424 | $16,122 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,856 | $34,453 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $13,040 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$57,504 | -$294,262 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Hawaii at Hilo or University of Hawaii Maui College?
University of Hawaii Maui College, at $8,061 a year after aid versus $11,856 — a gap of $3,795 a year, or $31,302 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Hawaii at Hilo or University of Hawaii Maui College graduates earn more?
University of Hawaii at Hilo graduates report a median $47,856 ten years after entry, $13,403 more than the $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Hawaii at Hilo or University of Hawaii Maui College?
University of Hawaii Maui College: its completers carry a median $13,040 in federal loans versus $20,500 at University of Hawaii at Hilo, a difference of $7,460. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at University of Hawaii at Hilo, against 28% at University of Hawaii Maui College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.