Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #263 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,903, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #888 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at University of Hawaii At Manoa earn about $2,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 66.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's return on investment ranking reflects consistent graduate earnings performance across its broad program mix, anchored by its standing as Hawaii's flagship public research institution.
Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #263 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 81.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university located in Honolulu, HI, University of Hawaii At Manoa enrolls roughly 15,029 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 80.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.3%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a large public research university serving a geographically distinct student population. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #888 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 40.0 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,903, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 66.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business — with Business representing 20% of degree output — contributes meaningfully to those outcomes, channeling a large share of graduates into career paths with solid early earnings. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 86.6% of applicants, and 26.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 33.8% are first-generation college students — a profile that reflects the university's role serving Hawaii's diverse population but also the constraints of a geographically bounded applicant pool. Affordability sits in the 74.4 percentile and access in the 71.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility in the 90.7 percentile — areas where the university's outcomes, while meaningful, trail its return-on-investment strength.
University of Hawaii at Manoa's published cost of attendance is $26,433. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,675; middle-income families pay around $14,469; higher-income families pay approximately $22,562. Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #366 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. The university's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay through a mix of grants and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,988; 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 $61,903, median federal debt of $18,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $209 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university experience in Honolulu, HI — particularly those who plan to build careers in Hawaii or the broader Pacific region. The earnings case is solid. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,903, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and graduates earn about $2,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 66.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 26.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.8% are first-generation college students, and University of Hawaii At Manoa sits in the 78.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — making it a meaningful option for Pell-eligible and first-generation students seeking a research university in the Pacific. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the geographic setting means graduates who stay in Hawaii benefit most from the institution's local employer relationships and regional labor-market alignment.
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 University Of Hawaii At Manoa 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.
University of Hawaii at Manoa's published cost of attendance is $26,433. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $10,675; middle-income families pay around $14,469; higher-income families pay approximately $22,562. Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #366 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. The university's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay through a mix of grants and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,988; 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 $61,903, median federal debt of $18,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $209 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $61,903, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Hawaii At Manoa in the 66.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Hawaii At Manoa #888 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Hawaii At Manoa also sits in the 78.9 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning $53,000.
The earnings pattern at University of Hawaii At Manoa is anchored by Business, which forms the largest share of degree output. Nursing stands out as the highest aggregate-return major.
Psychology, General has 216 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $48,005, and Azimuth ranks it #237 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Digital Marketing follows with 139 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $58,999, with Azimuth ranking it #178 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the highest-earning programs, Biology, General program graduates 131 students with median 4-year earnings of $45,307, while Communication and Media Studies and Finance round out a program mix that spans Business (20% of graduates), Social Sciences (8%), and Engineering (8%).
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
120 graduates
Computer Engineering
15 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
94 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
51 graduates
Civil Engineering
83 graduates
University of Hawaii At Manoa's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with the university's role as Hawaii's flagship public research institution serving a Pacific-facing regional economy. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 20% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 8% and Engineering at 8%.
Across 71 programs serving roughly 3,288 students annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes cluster in business, health, and applied-science fields where Hawaii's labor market maintains consistent demand. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest enrollment scale with strong four-year earnings.
Among the most popular programs, Psychology, General program graduates 216 students with median earnings of $48,005 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #237 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Digital Marketing and Biology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each contributing meaningfully to the institution's overall earnings profile given their cohort scale.
The highest-earning programs at University of Hawaii At Manoa reflect the university's applied-professional strengths. Nursing leads on four-year median earnings at $120,258, and Azimuth ranks it #15 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mechanical Engineering follows with median earnings of $92,555, ranked #114 among nonprofit four-year institutions, while Finance posts median earnings of $64,224 and is ranked #171 among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter Hawaii's healthcare, business, and technology sectors and four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes.
For context on how these fields align with national demand trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen F Austin State University Similar quality tier (#10721 ranked) | TX | 94% | $49,634 | #10721 | Compare |
Auburn University Similar quality tier (#10709 ranked) | AL | 46% | $65,337 | #10709 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-Kansas City Similar quality tier (#10707 ranked) | MO | 72% | $59,637 | #10707 | Compare |
Norfolk State University Similar quality tier (#10730 ranked) | VA | 88% | $44,666 | #10730 | Compare |
University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Similar quality tier (#10698 ranked) | NE | 87% | $56,887 | #10698 | Compare |
