Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 42.0%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 41.6%
- Retention Rate
- 69.8%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $47,856
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $20,500
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 63.2%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $217/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $115,250 | $218,140 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $72,357 | $18,000 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $57,318 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $50,856 | $26,760 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Master | $42,682 | $36,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $38,289 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $35,060 | $22,000 |
| Agriculture, General. | Bachelor | $32,711 | $21,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $31,314 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $31,133 | $17,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor | $28,019 | |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $27,126 | $20,505 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $26,739 | $21,841 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Certificate | $25,967 |
Outcomes Overview
UH Hilo graduates face a challenging financial reality with median debt of $20,500 and starting salaries around $35,755. Monthly loan payments of $217 consume about 7.3% of take-home pay, higher than the recommended 5%. The debt-to-income ratio of 57% exceeds national averages for public universities. Many graduates enter marine science research, education, and tourism management on the islands, where salaries reflect Hawaii's unique but expensive economy. Earnings do improve over time, reaching $47,856 after ten years. However, the combination of below-average graduation rates at 42% and modest starting salaries suggests a weak return on investment, particularly for mainland students paying out-of-state tuition.