Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Laie, Hawaii · Private Nonprofit · 47.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Laie scores ROI 62 (Fair Value) - a small LDS-affiliated institution on the North Shore of Oahu with 2,889 undergraduates. The school's financial profile is unusual: tuition is $6,630 per year, the lowest on the list, yet net price climbs to $16,774 because housing and cost of living in Hawaii add substantially to the real cost of attendance. Median 6-year earnings land at $35,600, rising to $52,064 at 10 years - below many comparable small privates but supported by an exceptional debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.264 (median debt $9,413). That debt figure is the school's most striking data point: graduates carry only $9,413 at graduation, which translates to manageable monthly payments against modest earnings. Completion at 52.6% is the main weakness. Business Administration is the only program with reportable earnings data, with 111 graduates per year. BYU-Hawaii serves a globally diverse, predominantly LDS student body from the Pacific region.
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,630/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $6,630/yr |
| Average net price | $16,774/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $67,096 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,064 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,413 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $100 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,889 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $6,630/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,774/year, or roughly $67,096 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,623/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,582/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $9,413 in federal loans, which works out to about $100 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $52,064 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.26, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,623 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,255 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,993 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,155 |
| $110,001+ | $22,582 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $11,623 per year - the lowest net price on this income band, reflecting the Church's substantial subsidy. Over four years that is roughly $46,492. For low-income LDS families, BYU-Hawaii represents a genuine access point to a faith-aligned education at costs below most public universities. The $9,413 median debt is minimal by any standard.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket jumps to $21,255 - a sharp increase from the lowest bracket, which is unusual. The 48,001-75,000 bracket falls back to $15,993, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket rises to $17,155. The irregular pattern likely reflects LDS scholarship eligibility cutoffs at the lower end. Middle-income families should use the net price calculator to confirm their bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $22,582 per year. Over four years that is roughly $90,328, which is competitive with mainland private school pricing. Given the $35,600 median 6-year earnings, high-income families need to factor in the church-specific career pathway context: BYU-Hawaii graduates often enter fields (mission, church service, Pacific-rim business) where standard salary benchmarks underrepresent actual financial value.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Brigham Young University-Hawaii with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $41,461 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is BYU-Hawaii's largest and only program with reported earnings data at 111 graduates per year. Median 1-year earnings of $41,461 (4-year data not available in the Scorecard) reflect mid-level management and business roles across Hawaii and the Pacific region. Without 4-year earnings, the long-term trajectory is unclear from available data. The LDS network creates unique placement pathways for BYU-Hawaii business graduates - the Polynesian Cultural Center (adjacent to campus and operated by the Church) is a major local employer, and LDS institutional connections extend internationally. Students who use the global LDS network in Pacific-rim business contexts may outperform what the Scorecard earnings suggest.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Brigham Young University-Hawaii’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 47.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-25 |
| Enrollment | 2,889 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,793 |
BYU-Hawaii admits 47% of applicants - the most selective school in this analysis relative to its ROI tier. SAT Math 480-570, SAT Reading 480-620; ACT 21-25. The selective admission rate relative to the school's moderate test score range reflects LDS ecclesiastical endorsement requirements, which filter applicants beyond academics. Students must have a bishop's endorsement to attend.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
BYU-Hawaii (ROI 62, D2E 0.264) is unusual in its peer set. Chaminade University of Honolulu (ROI 31, earn6yr $31,800, D2E 0.731) is Hawaii's closest comparable private and scores far below on every metric. Hawaii Pacific University (ROI 48, earn6yr $41,800, D2E 0.526) has higher earnings but weaker debt control and lower completion. BYU-Hawaii's $9,413 median debt is the standout in any Hawaii peer comparison - far below any private school alternative. The 12.1-year payback period is long, but with minimal debt, graduates are not in financial distress; their earnings trajectory simply grows slowly in Hawaii's post-graduate labor market.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University-Hawaii (this school) | 62 | $16,774 | $52,064 |
| St Olaf College | 73 | $23,874 | $65,543 |
| Jacksonville University | 67 | $25,180 | $68,010 |
| Yeshiva University | 67 | $49,965 | $71,353 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | 48 | $29,657 | $59,593 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | 31 | $28,856 | $52,343 |
Who Thrives Here
BYU-Hawaii fits students who align with LDS values and the Pacific campus lifestyle, with ACT 21-25 or SAT 480-620 range. With only 15.1% Pell recipients and a church-subsidized tuition, this school is unusually affordable for its private status. Completion at 52.6% is a concern for students who are not mission-focused or who lack clear academic direction. The school's international student population (Pacific Islands, Asia) creates a distinctive community that appeals to LDS members seeking cross-cultural engagement.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Brigham Young University-Hawaii is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,774 a year after aid ($67,096 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $52,064 a decade out, the cost takes about 12.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 52.6% graduation rate.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $9,413 owed against $52,064 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Brigham Young University-Hawaii: Common Questions
Is Brigham Young University-Hawaii worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Brigham Young University-Hawaii is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,774 a year after aid ($67,096 over four years) against $52,064 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 12.1 years to earn back - roughly average.
How much does Brigham Young University-Hawaii cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $16,774 a year, or roughly $67,096 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Brigham Young University-Hawaii graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,064 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,264 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Brigham Young University-Hawaii?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.1 years for Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Brigham Young University-Hawaii graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $9,413, against $52,064 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at Brigham Young University-Hawaii?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.6%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.