Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #1289 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,043 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 49.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $58,128, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #1289 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University enrolls roughly 2,392 undergraduates. Retention is 56.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 34.9%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a mid-sized private institution. Where Hawaii Pacific University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #720 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,043 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 49.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family is Health, which aligns with Hawaii's regional labor-market demand and supports strong post-graduation outcomes for graduates entering health-related careers. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Hawaii Pacific University sits in the 22.3 percentile for access and the 21.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 21.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.8% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Mobility sits in the 2.4 percentile, indicating moderate outcomes for low-income student advancement relative to peer institutions. For families weighing affordability and long-term value, Financial GPS tool offers personalized cost and debt projections by major and earnings scenario.
Hawaii Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $50,674. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $25,758, middle-income families pay around $28,979, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,540. Azimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #1120 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Hawaii Pacific University's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,362; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,128, median federal debt of $22,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hawaii Pacific University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in HI. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,128, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $2,043 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 49.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 21.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.8% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Hawaii Pacific University in the 79.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 85.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors health professions over STEM or business fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to HI's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,809.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Hawaii Pacific University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Hawaii Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $50,674. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $25,758, middle-income families pay around $28,979, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,540.
Azimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #1120 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Hawaii Pacific University's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,362; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,128, median federal debt of $22,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Hawaii Pacific University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,128, placing Hawaii Pacific University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Hawaii Pacific University sits in the 49.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hawaii Pacific University #720 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on Hawaii Pacific's dominant health sciences focus.
Nursing is the largest program with 114 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $112,964, representing 1.3× the national benchmark for the field. Business Administration and Psychology, General follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Psychology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,721 — 1.2× the national benchmark.
Additional programs including Criminal Justice and Biology, General round out the portfolio, with Biology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,335 and 0.9× the national benchmark for that field.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
114 graduates
Computer Science
23 graduates
Psychology, General
36 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
34 graduates
Biology, General
25 graduates
Hawaii Pacific University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and professional fields, reflecting the institution's positioning as a private nonprofit university in Hawaii's healthcare and hospitality-dependent economy. Nursing is the largest program with 114 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Criminal Justice, and Biology, General.
Across 18 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in health-related and business-adjacent fields. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied professional programs.
Nursing leads with median 4-year earnings of $112,964 among 114 graduates, followed by Computer Science with median earnings of $85,936, Psychology, General with $58,721, and Biology, General with $49,335. These programs reflect Hawaii Pacific University's concentration in Health — representing 20% of graduates — alongside Education at 4% and other STEM fields at 2%.
The earnings pattern aligns with Hawaii's labor market, where healthcare, hospitality management, and applied business fields drive stable employment and wage growth. Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional and national labor-market outcomes.
Health-related fields in particular benefit from consistent demand in Hawaii's healthcare infrastructure and across the Pacific region. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hawaii Pacific University's dominant program families align with broader workforce trends and regional economic opportunity.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College Similar quality tier (#34969 ranked) | IN | 72% | $43,845 | #34969 | Compare |
Washington College Similar quality tier (#34968 ranked) | MD | 57% | $65,518 | #34968 | Compare |
Midland University Similar quality tier (#34971 ranked) | NE | 66% | $52,163 | #34971 | Compare |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Similar quality tier (#34972 ranked) | OH | 84% | $49,555 | #34972 | Compare |
Concordia University-Wisconsin Similar quality tier (#34974 ranked) | WI | 78% | $56,075 | #34974 | Compare |
