Mathematics at Hawaii Pacific University

A mathematics bachelor's degree from Hawaii Pacific University carries an estimated $21,750 in debt—slightly above both state and national medians for the field. While the sample size is too small to report actual outcomes, peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $48,772. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with less than half of their first year's salary.

The catch? Hawaii's math market tells a different story. The University of Hawaii at Manoa, the state's flagship program with actual reported data, shows graduates earning $39,963—nearly $9,000 below the national median. If HPU's outcomes track closer to Hawaii's compressed salary structure rather than mainland benchmarks, that debt becomes considerably less manageable. The state's higher cost of living compounds this concern, as a $40,000 salary stretches far less in Honolulu than a comparable figure would elsewhere.

Here's the practical question: are you paying for Hawaii-specific outcomes or national ones? Without actual graduate data from HPU, you're making an educated guess based on programs elsewhere. If your child plans to stay in Hawaii post-graduation, budget for earnings closer to that $40,000 reality check from UH Manoa. If mainland opportunities are on the table, the math gets more forgiving—but you're still betting on estimates rather than demonstrated results from this particular program.