Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University

Hawaii Pacific's nursing program starts graduates at $75,892—below both the state median ($84,401) and ranking in just the 40th percentile among Hawaii's five nursing programs. That's roughly $8,500 less than what University of Hawaii Manoa grads earn and about $23,000 behind University of Phoenix-Hawaii. In a state where nursing salaries are generally strong, this program underperforms its local competition despite charging $25,000 in median debt.

The saving grace here is earnings growth: graduates see a 27% jump to $96,048 by year four, eventually surpassing most Hawaii programs and landing well above the national median. This suggests the program's clinical training translates to career advancement, even if initial placements lag behind UH system schools. The debt load is reasonable—lower than both state and national medians—making the 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio manageable from day one.

For families evaluating options, this comes down to patience versus immediate payoff. UH Manoa offers better starting salaries at similar debt levels, while UH Hilo matches your four-year trajectory with less financial risk upfront. Hawaii Pacific might work for students who value the private university environment and can weather a slower first year, but the public alternatives deliver more predictable value in Hawaii's competitive nursing market.