University of Hawaii at Hilo
#5 Best Online Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,856 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,856 B-
- 31% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 61% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.1 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Online Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $28.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,284,925.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Hawaii at Hilo Matters
University of Hawaii at Hilo is a public doctoral / professional university in Hilo, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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
- Public Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,160
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose University of Hawaii at Hilo
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
Competitive — admits about 61% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 945–1175. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,856 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,856 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.31 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Hawaii at Hilo has a net price of $11,856, making it an accessible option for many students. With an acceptance rate of 61%, it opens doors for a diverse range of applicants seeking higher education in a unique environment.
Graduates from UH Hilo earn an average of $47,856 within ten years of completing their degree. While the graduation rate stands at 45%, many students benefit from a supportive community, especially in popular fields like Health Professions, Business, and Psychology. However, specific mobility metrics are not available, which limits the understanding of long-term outcomes for lower-income students.
Students who thrive at UH Hilo often appreciate the natural beauty of the location and the close-knit campus atmosphere. The median debt of $20,500 is manageable for many, especially considering the potential earnings after graduation. With 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, a significant portion of the student body comes from low-income backgrounds, seeking a pathway to success in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Hawaii at Hilo 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 University of Hawaii at Hilo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Hilo, Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Hilo offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 61% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,028. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1028
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 945–1175
- ACT Range
- 15–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 76%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,097
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 2,595
- Admitted
- 2,186
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 University of Hawaii at Hilo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii at Hilo is $20,798, 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 $11,856. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,983 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,838
- Out-of-State
- $20,798
- Avg Net Price
- $11,856
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,983
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,243
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,535
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,403
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Hawaii at Hilo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii at Hilo earn a median of $47,856, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,204
- 8 Years
- $41,883
- 10 Years
- $47,856
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (64)
- 15%
- 100% (64)
- 15%
- 100% (64)
- 15%
- 100% (64)
- 15%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Hawaii at Hilo Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Hawaii at Hilo delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,856/year ($47,424 total). Graduates earn $47,856 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,332,349 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,284,925 (28.1× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $47,424
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,332,349
- Net Return
- $1,284,925
- ROI Multiple
- 28.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,856
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $293,175
- Investment Income
- $-295,791
Top Programs
The fields University of Hawaii at Hilo awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 14%
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Biology & Biomedical 13%
- Psychology 9%
- Social Sciences 7%
- Communications 5%
- Physical Sciences 5%
- Criminal Justice 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Hawaii at Hilo'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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Hawaii at Hilo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Hilo, Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Hilo offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 61% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,028. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Hawaii at Hilo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii at Hilo is $20,798, 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 $11,856. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,983 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Hawaii at Hilo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii at Hilo earn a median of $47,856, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Hawaii at Hilo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Hawaii at Hilo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Hawaii at Hilo.
- Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN · Close peer45% grad $51,342 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minot State UniversityMinot, ND · Close peer46% grad $51,759 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus, GA · Close peer36% grad $48,757 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS · Close peer51% grad $43,087 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of South Carolina BeaufortBluffton, SC · Close peer36% grad $48,088 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bethel UniversityMcKenzie, TN · Close peer35% grad $47,482 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Hawaii at Hilo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Hawaii at Hilo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note