University of Hawaii at Manoa combines moderate selectivity with strong economic mobility outcomes. The university ranks in the 90.5th percentile for mobility performance, serving diverse student populations while maintaining controlled debt levels that support long-term financial stability for graduates.
With modestly below average results, reflecting earnings that fall short of expectations relative to educational investment
With well above average performance, driven by controlled costs and reasonable debt levels
With top-tier performance, reflecting the university's effectiveness in converting educational access into economic advancement
With top-tier performance, reflecting the university's effectiveness in converting educational access into economic advancement
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Opportunity Builders: access with mobility outcomes
University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks #306 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with overall performance at the 81.3rd percentile. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this large public research university combines moderate selectivity with a 69.7% acceptance rate while serving diverse student populations.
The university enrolls 24.5% Pell-eligible students and 33.8% first-generation students, reflecting its mission to provide educational access across economic backgrounds. University of Hawaii at Manoa maintains strong academic standards with SAT scores ranging from 1020 to 1240, placing it in the 92nd percentile nationally for test score performance.
As an Opportunity Builders institution, the university focuses on broad educational access while delivering outcomes that support economic advancement for graduates from varied backgrounds.
University of Hawaii at Manoa delivers above-average earnings outcomes with controlled debt levels that support long-term financial stability. Graduates earn a median of $57,624 ten years after enrollment, placing the university at the 65th percentile nationally.
However, earnings fall $15,521 below expectations relative to similar students, indicating challenges in translating educational investment into wage premiums. Earnings range from $34,835 at the 25th percentile to $84,162 at the 75th percentile, reflecting varied career paths across the university's diverse program portfolio.
Students seeking accessible higher education with strong economic mobility outcomes, particularly those from first-generation or lower-income families. Well-suited for Hawaii residents prioritizing in-state affordability while maintaining pathway to solid post-graduation earnings across diverse academic programs.
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.
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This is the University Of Hawaii At Manoa hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/analysis.
University of Hawaii at Manoa admits 69.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 7 in 10 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places the university in the Moderately Selective category, reflecting an accessible admission process while maintaining academic standards.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates that University of Hawaii at Manoa operates with somewhat higher selectivity than typical institutions of similar size and mission. This moderate selectivity level means that qualified students have strong prospects for admission, though the university does maintain standards that prevent automatic acceptance.
The 30.3% of applicants who are not admitted typically fall short on academic preparation, test scores, or other admission criteria. For prospective students, this selectivity level suggests the importance of meeting basic academic requirements while not creating the intense competition found at highly selective institutions.
Students should approach University of Hawaii at Manoa as a realistic target school if their academic profile aligns with the university's standards, making it neither a safety nor a reach for most qualified applicants.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Hawaii at Manoa's published cost of attendance reaches $23,832 per year, including $12,186 in-state tuition, $14,936 for room and board, and $1,350 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $13,181 after financial aid, representing savings of $10,651 through institutional and federal assistance programs.
This net price places University of Hawaii at Manoa $2,409 above the peer median of $15,590, indicating somewhat higher costs than similar institutions. The substantial difference between sticker price and actual cost demonstrates the university's commitment to making education accessible through financial aid, though families should expect to pay above-average amounts relative to peer institutions.
Out-of-state students face significantly higher published tuition of $34,218, though financial aid helps offset these costs for eligible families. The university's pricing structure reflects its role as Hawaii's flagship public institution, balancing resident affordability with the higher costs of island-based education and operations.
University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $45,701 six years after enrollment to $52,625 at eight years and $57,624 at ten years, representing 26.1% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 3,878 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Low-income graduates earn $53,000, ranking at the 78th percentile nationally and indicating strong outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds despite the overall earnings gap.
The earnings distribution spans a 2.4:1 ratio between the 75th and 25th percentiles, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 23.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing.
116 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
34 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
68 graduates
Mechanical Engineering.
79 graduates
Civil Engineering, General.
84 graduates
University of Hawaii at Manoa offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for ranking. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing ranks #28 nationally and #1 in Hawaii, producing 116 graduates with median earnings of $99,132 and a value score of 90.1.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering ranks #98 nationally and #1 in Hawaii, graduating 68 students with median earnings of $84,271. Civil Engineering, General ranks #66 nationally and #1 in Hawaii, with 84 graduates earning $75,524 and achieving a strong value score of 60.4.
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching ranks #31 nationally and #1 in Hawaii, graduating 123 students with median earnings of $51,376 and an impressive value score of 86.2. Psychology, General serves as one of the university's largest programs, graduating 177 students annually with median earnings of $42,894.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii Pacific University Higher acceptance rate (14.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 3 miles away; similar graduate earnings | HI | 84% | $59,593 | Compare |
University Of Hawaii-West Oahu Higher acceptance rate (25.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 16 miles away; similar graduate earnings | HI | 96% | $52,075 | Compare |
Chaminade University Of Honolulu Higher acceptance rate (22.9 percentage points higher) and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | HI | 93% | $52,343 | Compare |
Eastern Washington University Higher acceptance rate (22.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 92% | $57,897 | Compare |
Portland State University Higher acceptance rate (21.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 91% | $57,906 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of North Dakota Similar quality tier (#305 ranked) | ND | 77% | $63,552 | #305 | Compare |
Valdosta State University Similar quality tier (#302 ranked) | GA | 83% | $49,361 | #302 | Compare |
University Of Wyoming Similar quality tier in West (#299 ranked) | WY | 97% | $56,880 | #299 | Compare |
Southeastern Louisiana University Similar quality tier (#311 ranked) | LA | 94% | $46,482 | #311 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Chattanooga Similar quality tier (#297 ranked) | TN | 77% | $51,151 | #297 | Compare |