Best College ROI in Hi 2026
9 colleges in Hi analyzed for return on investment. University of Hawaii at Hilo leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Hi has 9 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 4 public institutions and 5 private ones. Across the 9 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $18K and earn $77K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Hi colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Hawaii at Hilo (median $95K on Computer Science). The lowest median debt comes from Brigham Young University-Hawaii at $6K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Hi
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Hi's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $9K in median debt.
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 7700%, debt $6K.
Top 9 Colleges by ROI in Hi
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hawaii at Hilo(public) | Computer Science | $9K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | University of Hawaii at Manoa(public) | Computer Science | $6K | $95K | A (100) |
| 3 | Brigham Young University-Hawaii(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $6K | $95K | A (98) |
| 4 | Hawaii Pacific University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | University of Hawaii Maui College(public) | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $10K | $65K | A (83) |
| 6 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $8K | $65K | A (83) |
| 7 | Chaminade University of Honolulu(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $33K | $62K | B (76) |
| 8 | University of Phoenix-Hawaii(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $36K | $65K | B (74) |
| 9 | Pacific Rim Christian University(private) | Religion/Religious Studies | $26K | $52K | B (67) |
College debt and earnings data for Hi is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Hawaii at Hilo has the best ROI in Hi with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $9K in median debt.
Across 9 Hi colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $18K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $77K.
University of Hawaii at Hilo graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Hi has 9 colleges in our database (4 public, 5 private). Of the 9 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).