Accounting at Hawaii Pacific University

An associate's degree in accounting typically launches graduates into first-year earnings around $37,000 nationally, and Hawaii Pacific's program—based on patterns from comparable institutions—appears aligned with this baseline. The estimated $26,291 in debt sits noticeably above the national median of $19,354 for accounting associate's programs, which means students here may be borrowing roughly $7,000 more than peers at other schools pursuing the same credential.

That debt premium matters in practical terms: a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, but Hawaii's high cost of living complicates the picture. Making $37,000 go far in Honolulu—where housing and basic expenses run substantially higher than the mainland—will squeeze budgets tighter than the ratio alone suggests. Accounting offers solid job prospects and clear advancement paths, but starting with above-average debt in an expensive market reduces the financial cushion most new graduates need.

Given the limited data and the premium you'd pay over typical accounting programs, look hard at Hawaii's community college options for this same degree. They typically cost far less, produce similar entry-level accounting credentials, and connect students to the same local job market—potentially cutting that debt load in half while delivering comparable outcomes.