University of Hawaii-West Oahu
#2 Best Business Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,075 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $10,327 B
- 40% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 95% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Business Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,222,833.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 28% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Hawaii-West Oahu Matters
University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a public college in Kapolei, 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 2,519
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Education, Humanities
Why students choose University of Hawaii-West Oahu
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 95% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 931–1103. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,327 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,075 ten years after enrolling — 28% above the typical college, against $14,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.44 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Hawaii-West Oahu has an acceptance rate of 95%, making it accessible for a broad range of students. This high rate means that many who apply will find a place here, creating a diverse student body.
Graduates from this institution earn an average of $52,075 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility metrics are not available, this earning potential indicates that students can find stability in their careers post-graduation. The 48% graduation rate suggests that while many start their journey, not all complete it, highlighting the importance of support systems for student success.
Tuition and fees net to about $10,327, which is manageable compared to national averages. Graduates carry a median debt of $14,500, a figure that reflects the financial realities of many students. Those who thrive here often pursue degrees in Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, and Education, among other fields.
Rankings
- #2 Best Business Colleges in Hawaii
- #4 Best Online Colleges in Hawaii
- #5 Best Colleges in Hawaii
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii
- #46 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Social Work
- #47 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Social Sciences
- #47 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Public Administration
- #50 Most Affordable Online Master's in Social Work
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Hawaii-West Oahu 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-West Oahu? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kapolei, Hawaii, University of Hawaii-West Oahu admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 985. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 985
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 931–1103
- ACT Range
- 15–21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 61%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,565
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
- Applicants
- 909
- Admitted
- 876
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-West Oahu? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii-West Oahu is $20,544, 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 $10,327. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,674 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,584
- Out-of-State
- $20,544
- Avg Net Price
- $10,327
- Median Debt
- $14,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 21%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,674
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,077
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,247
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,718
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii-West Oahu earn a median of $52,075, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,352
- 8 Years
- $49,190
- 10 Years
- $52,075
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (31)
- 16%
- 100% (31)
- 16%
- 100% (31)
- 16%
- 100% (31)
- 16%
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-West Oahu Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Hawaii-West Oahu delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,327/year ($41,308 total). Graduates earn $52,075 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,264,141 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,222,833 (30.6× your investment). The median debt is $14,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,308
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,264,141
- Net Return
- $1,222,833
- ROI Multiple
- 30.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,327
- Median Debt
- $14,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $244,196
- Federal Grants
- $2,968,713
- Investment Income
- $-261,015
Top Programs
The fields University of Hawaii-West Oahu 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.
- Business & Marketing 32%
- Social Sciences 16%
- Education 8%
- Humanities 5%
- Criminal Justice 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Hawaii-West Oahu'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CTraining Manager$125,040 · 6% growthResilient 74
- CProduct Manager$125,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
- C-Scrum Master$105,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Hawaii-West Oahu? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kapolei, Hawaii, University of Hawaii-West Oahu admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 985. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Hawaii-West Oahu? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Hawaii-West Oahu is $20,544, 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 $10,327. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,674 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Hawaii-West Oahu earn a median of $52,075, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu? 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-West Oahu. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
- Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown, WV · Close peer50% grad $49,358 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colorado State University PuebloPueblo, CO · Close peer39% grad $55,563 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Fairmont State UniversityFairmont, WV · Close peer46% grad $46,857 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MA · Close peer54% grad $53,874 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Framingham State UniversityFramingham, MA · Close peer49% grad $52,349 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, OR · Close peer46% grad $51,815 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu? 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-West Oahu. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note