Hawaii Pacific University
#2 Best Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,593 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $29,657 F
- 73% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $12.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,413,649.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 46% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.92% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Hawaii Pacific University Matters
Hawaii Pacific University is a private university in Honolulu, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,392
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Hawaii Pacific University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 998–1200. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,657 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,593 ten years after enrolling — 46% above the typical college, against $22,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.58 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Hawaii Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 86%, making it highly accessible for students seeking a degree in a vibrant setting. Located in Honolulu, the university enrolls about 2,392 students, fostering a tight-knit community.
Graduates from Hawaii Pacific University earn a median income of $59,593 a decade after enrollment. However, the graduation rate is only 38%, which may impact long-term career prospects and upward mobility. The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data shows limited information on economic connectedness and mobility rates for this institution, indicating a need for further analysis on student outcomes.
The net price for attending is $29,657, with median debt at $22,000. This financial landscape suggests a moderate investment for students. Those who thrive here are likely pursuing degrees in health professions, humanities, business, or psychology, benefiting from a supportive environment in a stunning location.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hawaii Pacific University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawaii Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hawaii Pacific University, located in Honolulu, Hawaii, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,111. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 56%
- SAT Average
- 1111
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 998–1200
- ACT Range
- 19–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,549
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 13,354
- Admitted
- 11,631
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawaii Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawaii Pacific University is $34,392, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,657. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,758 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,392
- Out-of-State
- $34,392
- Avg Net Price
- $29,657
- Median Debt
- $22,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $25,758
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $24,413
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,979
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,540
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Hawaii Pacific University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hawaii Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of $59,593, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,773
- 8 Years
- $53,836
- 10 Years
- $59,593
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (160)
- 31%
- 100% (160)
- 31%
- 100% (160)
- 31%
- 100% (160)
- 31%
How Hawaii Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Hawaii Pacific University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hawaii Pacific University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,657/year ($118,628 total). Graduates earn $59,593 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,532,277 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,413,649 (12.9× your investment). The median debt is $22,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $118,628
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,532,277
- Net Return
- $1,413,649
- ROI Multiple
- 12.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,657
- Median Debt
- $22,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Hawaii Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hawaii Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.92%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.92%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $93,203
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-7,908,944
Top Programs
The fields Hawaii Pacific University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $77,221 early-career
- Business & Marketing 17% $47,548 early-career
- Humanities 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $33,335 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $42,312 early-career
- Psychology 7% $36,820 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $56,154 early-career
- Communications 2% $35,271 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hawaii Pacific University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawaii Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Hawaii Pacific University, located in Honolulu, Hawaii, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,111. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawaii Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawaii Pacific University is $34,392, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,657. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,758 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,000 in federal student loans.
Is Hawaii Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of $59,593, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Hawaii Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hawaii Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.92%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hawaii Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hawaii Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hawaii Pacific University.
- Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer63% grad $58,826 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Barry UniversityMiami, FL · Close peer37% grad $55,966 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis, MN · Close peer52% grad $58,829 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL · Close peer46% grad $54,272 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Marian UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer64% grad $58,759 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Trine UniversityAngola, IN · Close peer66% grad $57,165 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hawaii Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hawaii Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note