University of Hawaii at Manoa vs Chaminade University of Honolulu: which has better ROI?
University of Hawaii at Manoa has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,656 in 6.8 years versus 29 years at Chaminade University of Honolulu, on median earnings of $57,624 vs $52,343 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Chaminade University of Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,664 | $28,856 |
| Total net cost | $62,656 | $115,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,624 | $52,343 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 6.8 yrs | 29 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $122,624 | -$35,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Hawaii at Manoa or Chaminade University of Honolulu?
University of Hawaii at Manoa, at $15,664 a year after aid versus $28,856 — a gap of $13,192 a year, or $52,768 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 Manoa or Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates earn more?
University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates report a median $57,624 ten years after entry, $5,281 more than the $52,343 at Chaminade University of Honolulu. 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 Manoa or Chaminade University of Honolulu?
University of Hawaii at Manoa: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Chaminade University of Honolulu, a difference of $4,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at University of Hawaii at Manoa, against 55% at Chaminade University of Honolulu. 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.