Social Work at Brigham Young University-Hawaii

In Hawaii's small market for social work programs, BYU-Hawaii's outcomes remain largely obscured—both earnings and debt figures here come from national benchmarks rather than actual graduate data. What we can see is the four-year earnings mark of $44,859, which suggests meaningful salary growth but still trails the state's overall median income. The estimated first-year figure of $37,297 appears competitive against University of Hawaii at Manoa's reported $27,080, though without confirmed data for BYU-Hawaii specifically, this advantage remains theoretical.

The estimated debt load of $27,000 creates a manageable 0.72 ratio to first-year earnings based on these projections—roughly nine months of gross income. Social work is known for modest starting salaries nationwide, and Hawaii's high cost of living compounds that challenge even as the four-year data shows improvement. The question becomes whether family resources can help offset living costs during those early career years when salary may not stretch far in Laie's tourism-dependent economy.

For families considering this program, the absence of actual graduate data means you're betting on BYU-Hawaii's ability to match or exceed typical social work outcomes. Request employment placement information directly from the department, and understand that your child may need financial support beyond graduation while building their career in one of America's most expensive states.