Human Resources Management and Services at Brigham Young University-Hawaii

A debt load around $30,000 against first-year earnings near $50,000 creates a manageable financial foundation for BYU-Hawaii's HR bachelor's program, though both figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than this program's actual outcomes. Similar programs nationally typically produce this level of debt and earnings, suggesting this falls squarely in the middle of the HR field—neither a standout investment nor a red flag.

The two Hawaii schools with reported data show the potential range: University of Hawaii at Manoa's HR graduates earn around $45,000, while University of Phoenix grads start closer to $58,000. Where BYU-Hawaii lands within that spectrum matters significantly for your family's return on investment, but without actual data, you're banking on the estimated $50,000 figure holding true. The 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests reasonable repayment terms if the estimates prove accurate, but that's still an "if."

The bigger question is whether HR—a field with steady but unspectacular salary growth—justifies college debt in Hawaii's expensive job market. If your student plans to stay in the islands, they'll need to weigh whether $30,000 in loans makes sense for a career track where mid-level positions may only reach the mid-$60,000s. Working for a few years at a mainland company with stronger HR infrastructure could accelerate both earnings and career development before returning home.