Biology at University of Hawaii at Hilo

UH Hilo's biology program shows something unusual: graduates start modestly at $35,373, then see their earnings surge 72% by year four to over $60,000. This trajectory outperforms the typical biology degree—nationally, this program ranks in the 70th percentile for earnings, and it's the strongest biology program among Hawaii's five options. For context, UH Manoa's biology graduates earn just $28,522 initially, nearly $7,000 less.

The debt picture is manageable at $21,750, slightly below both Hawaii's median and the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 in the first year, graduates start with reasonable breathing room that improves dramatically as earnings accelerate. That steep earnings growth suggests graduates are either pursuing professional opportunities (think medical school, pharmacy, or research positions) or finding specialized roles that value a few years of experience. Serving a substantial proportion of Pell Grant students (40%), the program demonstrates solid outcomes for students from diverse economic backgrounds.

For parents, the key question is whether their child can navigate that first year or two of modest earnings. If graduate school or certification programs are part of the plan, those early years make sense. The four-year earnings data suggests this degree opens doors that take time to walk through—but once graduates do, they're earning well above what most biology majors make anywhere in Hawaii.