The cost of college in Hawaii — and what it pays back
Across the 13 Hawaii institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $10,327/yr, $6,575 below the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $45,105 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 5 of the 13 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Hawaii's 13 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | $15,664 | $57,624 | 6.8 yrs |
| Hawaii Pacific University | $29,657 | $59,593 | 10.6 yrs |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | $10,327 | $52,075 | 11.1 yrs |
| Brigham Young University-Hawaii | $16,774 | $52,064 | 18.1 yrs |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | $28,856 | $52,343 | 29 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeward Community College | $5,137 | $39,899 | no payback |
| Kapiolani Community College | $5,202 | $44,599 | no payback |
| Honolulu Community College | $7,458 | $45,105 | no payback |
| University of Hawaii Maui College | $8,061 | $34,453 | no payback |
| Windward Community College | $8,169 | $38,439 | no payback |
How many Hawaii colleges actually pay for themselves?
5 of 13 — 38% of the Hawaii institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Hawaii graduates out-earn the national median?
Hawaii graduates report a median $45,105 ten years after entry, $1,557 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.