University of Hawaii at Hilo
#5 Best Online Colleges in HawaiiBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 61%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,028. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 45%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Hawaii at Hilo, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,798 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $11,856 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,983 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
What Families Actually Pay
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Hawaii at Hilo's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 61%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,028. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Hawaii at Hilo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Hawaii at Hilo, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,798 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $11,856 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,983 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
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 national averages for 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.31 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.31 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note