Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii · Private Nonprofit · 91.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 31/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chaminade University of Honolulu posts a 31 ROI score in the Below Benchmark tier - a discouraging result for one of Hawaii's only private-nonprofit four-year options. Tuition lists at $30,874 with a net price of $28,856 (close to sticker, indicating thin institutional aid), totaling $115,424 across four years. Earnings of $31,800 at six years rise to $52,343 by year ten - a real ramp but a slow one. The 14.7-year payback period and 0.731 debt-to-earnings ratio against $23,250 of median debt mean borrowers spend over a decade earning back their investment. The 56.4% three-year repayment rate is weak - nearly half of borrowers had not paid down any principal by year three, suggesting many graduates rely on income-driven repayment. Completion is 55.4%. The Marianist Catholic identity and small-college feel are distinctive.
How Chaminade University of Honolulu scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score31/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,874/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,874/yr |
| Average net price | $28,856/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $115,424 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,343 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,672 |
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: $30,874/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,856/year, or roughly $115,424 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 $31,589/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,306/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,800) and comes to 0.73, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $31,589 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,591 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,597 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,054 |
| $110,001+ | $29,306 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
There's a meaningful inversion to flag: families earning under $30,000 pay $31,589 - the highest net price of any income bracket, exceeding the $30,001-$48,000 bracket ($21,591) by $10,000. This is unusual and worth questioning. It may reflect small-sample noise or unusual aid policies, but on its face the lowest-income families pay more than middle-income ones.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $21,591 - the lowest of any bracket, breaking the typical aid pattern. Then $48,001-$75,000 pays $25,597, $75,001-$110,000 pays $28,054. The bracket pattern after the first two brackets is normal. Middle-income families face $80K-$110K over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $29,306 - only modestly below the listed tuition, indicating institutional aid for high-income students is small (mostly merit). At $117K over four years, this only makes sense for families committed to the Marianist setting and willing to pay for it without expecting financial value.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Chaminade University of Honolulu with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $108,622 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,720 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,778 | D |
| Teacher Education | $51,215 | - |
| Psychology | $51,344 | D |
| History | $38,412 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Chaminade's clear standout: 92 graduates per year (the largest program), $81,125 first-year and $108,622 four-year earnings against $31,000 median debt - a 0.382 ratio and B grade. Hawaii has chronic nursing shortages, and BSN graduates earn premium starting wages reflecting the high cost of living. The four-year earnings figure crosses six figures, which decisively justifies the price tag.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (29 graduates) shows $35,300 first-year and $52,720 four-year earnings against $23,648 debt - a 0.67 ratio and C grade. Career paths feed into HPD, federal law enforcement (Hawaii has significant federal presence due to military and immigration), and private security. The four-year ramp is solid; the debt-to-earnings is manageable. As Chaminade programs go this is the second-best ROI.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business graduates 26 students with $30,587 first-year and $56,778 four-year earnings against $25,000 debt - a 0.817 ratio and D grade. Hawaii's labor market for general business graduates is small and competitive, dominated by tourism, government, and military-adjacent employers. Earnings recover meaningfully into year four (85% growth) but the entry-level pay is rough. Students considering this program should specialize in finance or accounting and target large local employers (Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian, Servco) early.
Psychology
Psychology (21 graduates) shows $29,445 first-year and $51,344 four-year earnings against $24,965 debt - a 0.848 ratio and D grade. Standard undergrad-psych problem: low entry pay, weak terminal-degree outcomes, and a clear need for graduate school to reach a livable wage. Chaminade does have a graduate psychology program that some students transition into, which improves the long-run ROI for those who complete the master's pipeline.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 54.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 56.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chaminade University of Honolulu’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 | 91.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-625 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-625 |
| Enrollment | 1,672 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,015 |
Chaminade admits 91.4% of applicants - effectively open admission. SAT mid-50% bands are wide (Math 480-625, Reading 490-625) and ACT data is not reported. The wide test bands and very high acceptance rate signal a student body of mixed academic preparation, which correlates with the 55.4% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade University of Honolulu (this school) | 31 | $28,856 | $52,343 |
| Brigham Young University-Hawaii | 62 | $16,774 | $52,064 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | 48 | $29,657 | $59,593 |
| University of Dubuque | 33 | $23,386 | $51,190 |
| College for Creative Studies | 30 | $34,617 | $44,860 |
| Mid-America Christian University | 30 | $16,692 | $46,116 |
Who Thrives Here
Chaminade fits Hawaii residents who specifically want a small private Catholic university and value the Marianist mission, plus mainland students drawn to Honolulu and willing to pay private tuition for the experience. Enrollment of 1,672 with a 41.3% Pell rate skews toward middle and lower-middle income. Outcomes look strongest for nursing graduates (BSN students earn $81K+ first-year), reflecting Hawaii's healthcare labor market premium driven by high cost of living and rural-island staffing pressures. Beyond nursing, the data is not encouraging.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Chaminade University of Honolulu scores 31/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $28,856 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $52,343 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 14.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 56.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Chaminade University of Honolulu: Common Questions
Is Chaminade University of Honolulu worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Chaminade University of Honolulu scores 31/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $28,856 a year after aid against $52,343 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 14.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Chaminade University of Honolulu cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $28,856 a year, or roughly $115,424 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,343 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,543 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 Chaminade University of Honolulu?
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 14.7 years for Chaminade University of Honolulu. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Chaminade University of Honolulu?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). 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.