University of Hawaii at Manoa
#3 Best Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,624 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,664 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,491,784.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 41% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $24.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Hawaii at Manoa Matters
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public research university in Honolulu, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and 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 Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 15,029
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose University of Hawaii at Manoa
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 87% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1081–1293. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,664 a year after grants and scholarships — 9% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,624 ten years after enrolling — 41% above the typical college, against $18,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.52 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has an acceptance rate of 87%. This means a majority of applicants gain entry, making it accessible for many students. With an enrollment of over 15,000, it creates a vibrant, diverse campus environment.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics are not available for this institution. However, the graduation rate sits at 63%, indicating that many students successfully complete their degrees. Graduates can expect to earn around $57,624 within ten years of finishing their studies, which suggests a solid return on their educational investment.
The net price for attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa is approximately $15,664, while the median student debt stands at $18,500. With 26% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial support is available for those who qualify. This school is ideal for students interested in fields like Business, Biology, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Psychology, particularly those looking for a supportive and diverse atmosphere in a unique location.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Hawaii at Manoa 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 Manoa? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,102. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 81%
- SAT Average
- 1102
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1081–1293
- ACT Range
- 17–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 80%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,472
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 18,974
- Admitted
- 13,807
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 Manoa? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii at Manoa is $34,218, 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 $15,664. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,675 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,186
- Out-of-State
- $34,218
- Avg Net Price
- $15,664
- Median Debt
- $18,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 27%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,675
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,246
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,469
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,562
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 University of Hawaii at Manoa — 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii at Manoa earn a median of $57,624, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,701
- 8 Years
- $52,625
- 10 Years
- $57,624
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (631)
- 35%
- 100% (631)
- 35%
- 100% (631)
- 35%
- 100% (631)
- 35%
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 Manoa 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 Manoa delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,664/year ($62,656 total). Graduates earn $57,624 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,554,440 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,491,784 (24.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $62,656
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,554,440
- Net Return
- $1,491,784
- ROI Multiple
- 24.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,664
- Median Debt
- $18,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-12,337,085
Top Programs
The fields University of Hawaii at Manoa 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.
- Business & Marketing 20% $60,724 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $34,840 early-career
- Psychology 8% $32,579 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $46,521 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $84,017 early-career
- Education 6% $55,456 early-career
- Engineering 5% $88,611 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $62,507 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Hawaii at Manoa? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,102. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Hawaii at Manoa? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii at Manoa is $34,218, 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 $15,664. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,675 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii at Manoa earn a median of $57,624, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Hawaii at Manoa? 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 Manoa. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV · Close peer63% grad $55,939 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · Close peer63% grad $51,833 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS · Close peer71% grad $57,262 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ · Close peer64% grad $61,415 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Close peer58% grad $53,562 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Close peer61% grad $53,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Hawaii at Manoa? 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 Manoa. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), 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