Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, Hawaii · Private Nonprofit · 85.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Hawaii Pacific University scores 48 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The completion rate is 34.9%. This single metric dominates the ROI calculation. Sticker tuition of $34,392, a $29,657 net price, and $118,628 four-year cost are high relative to what most students will earn: $41,800 average 6-year earnings and a 10.5-year payback period. Median debt of $22,000 against $41,800 earnings produces a 0.526 debt-to-earnings ratio. Nursing (122 graduates) is the clear outlier: $75,892 year one, $112,964 at four years, B+-grade ROI - the strongest program outcome in the mix by a wide margin. Computer Science (11 graduates) earns $72,448 year one and $85,936 at four years, though debt data is not reported. Business Administration (86 graduates) earns $45,651 year one with a C+-grade ROI. Below those programs, outcomes are poor: Psychology (46 graduates) earns $26,081 year one with a D-grade; Ecology (32 graduates) earns $25,499 year one with a D-grade. HPU's Honolulu location serves international students and military-affiliated families, which contributes to both the diverse campus and the challenging completion statistics.
How Hawaii Pacific University 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.
- 6-year graduation rate34.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Hawaii Pacific University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,392/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,392/yr |
| Average net price | $29,657/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $118,628 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,593 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 34.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,392 |
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: $34,392/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,657/year, or roughly $118,628 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 $25,758/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,540/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,000, which works out to about $233 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,800) and comes to 0.53, 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 | $25,758 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,413 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,979 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,450 |
| $110,001+ | $33,540 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $25,758 per year at HPU, and the completion rate is 34.9%. The only program where HPU's higher cost is clearly justified by outcomes is nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,979 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $30,450. Middle-income families paying $29,000-30,000 per year at a school with a 34.9% completion rate and $41,800 average earnings should pressure-test this decision carefully. The nursing program justifies the cost for those who gain admission and complete; most other programs do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $33,540 per year - roughly $134,000 over four years. The 34.9% completion rate means there is a two-thirds chance a student who enrolls does not finish.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Hawaii Pacific University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $112,964 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $45,651 | C+ |
| Psychology | $58,721 | D |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,499 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $29,193 | D |
| Biology | $49,335 | C |
| Computer Science | $85,936 | - |
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 (122 graduates) dramatically outperforms the rest of HPU's program mix: $75,892 year one, $112,964 at four years, B+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.329, median debt $25,000). The four-year trajectory to $112,964 is exceptional and reflects Hawaii's high nursing wages driven by healthcare worker shortages. Honolulu hospital systems pay strong nursing premiums on a cost-adjusted basis. Nursing at HPU, for students who complete the degree, represents genuinely strong financial returns.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (86 graduates) earns $45,651 year one with a C+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.471, median debt $21,500). Scorecard does not report four-year earnings for this cohort. Year-one earnings of $45,651 are moderate for Hawaii's business market. Hawaii's cost of living is very high, and $45,651 provides limited financial flexibility in Honolulu. At $29,657 net price, business graduates face a meaningful debt-to-earnings burden unless career progression is strong.
Psychology
Psychology (46 graduates) earns $26,081 year one and $58,721 at four years - D-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.959, median debt $25,000). The four-year figure of $58,721 reflects those who entered graduate programs, but the path is not guaranteed. Psychology at HPU at $29,657 net price is a high-financial-risk choice without a firm graduate education plan.
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
Ecology (32 graduates) earns $25,499 year one - D-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.980, median debt $25,000). Scorecard does not report four-year earnings. Year-one earnings of $25,499 reflect entry-level field research, conservation, and state agency roles. Hawaii's unique ecology creates real employment in conservation and research, but bachelor's-level positions pay modestly. Students who plan to enter the conservation sector from HPU should have clear plans for the additional credentials or graduate training needed for advancement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Hawaii Pacific University’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 | 85.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 488-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-27 |
| Enrollment | 2,392 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,549 |
At 85.9%, HPU is broadly accessible. SAT 488-590 Math and ACT 19-27 describe the middle half of admitted students - a broad academic range. The 34.9% completion rate makes admission almost irrelevant as a risk filter: the primary risk is not getting in but staying and graduating. Prospective students and families should research first-to-second-year retention rates at HPU specifically, not just the four-year completion figure.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific University (this school) | 48 | $29,657 | $59,593 |
| Brigham Young University-Hawaii | 62 | $16,774 | $52,064 |
| Trine University | 52 | $25,355 | $57,165 |
| Campbell University | 49 | $24,516 | $54,886 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | 31 | $28,856 | $52,343 |
Who Thrives Here
HPU admits 85.9% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 488-590 Math and 510-610 Reading, ACT composite 19-27. Enrollment of 2,392 is mid-sized for a Honolulu private. Pell rate of 21.5% reflects mixed financial need. HPU attracts a notably international student body alongside military-affiliated and local Hawaii students. The 34.9% completion rate is the most significant concern - fewer than 35 in 100 enrolled students earn a degree, which means the vast majority of students who enroll do not complete. Students considering HPU should have an explicit completion plan and understand what institutional support exists for retention.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Hawaii Pacific University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $29,657 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,593 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 34.9% graduation rate.
Median debt of $22,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Hawaii Pacific University: Common Questions
Is Hawaii Pacific University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Hawaii Pacific University scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,657 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,593 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Hawaii Pacific University 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 $29,657 a year, or roughly $118,628 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 Hawaii Pacific University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,593 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,793 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 Hawaii Pacific University?
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 10.5 years for Hawaii Pacific University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Hawaii Pacific University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,000, against average earnings of $41,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Hawaii Pacific University?
The six-year graduation rate is 34.9%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.