Political Science and Government at Hawaii Pacific University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 looks manageable on paper, but the picture for this program grows murkier when you consider what peer institutions are actually reporting. The University of Hawaii at Manoa—the only Hawaii school with published data for political science graduates—shows first-year earnings of just $24,964, roughly $10,000 below what similar programs produce nationally. If Hawaii Pacific follows closer to local patterns than national ones, that $24,625 in estimated debt becomes considerably heavier.

The cost structure matters here. Hawaii Pacific is a private nonprofit, and its estimated debt load of $24,625—derived from other programs at the school—sits above Hawaii's $18,000 state median for political science degrees. Meanwhile, the national earnings estimate of $35,627 comes from programs across the country, many in regions with lower costs of living and different job markets than Honolulu's tourism-dependent economy. Political science bachelor's degrees rarely lead directly to high-paying careers without graduate school or specialized career pivoting, making that debt load particularly consequential if your child needs time to find their footing.

Given the data limitations and the significant gap between UH Manoa's actual outcomes and national estimates, treat that $35,627 figure skeptically. If your child is seriously considering this program, get concrete answers from Hawaii Pacific's career services about where recent graduates actually work and what they earn, particularly those staying in Hawaii versus moving to the mainland.