Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Hawaii at Hilo

A bachelor's degree in liberal arts from UH Hilo comes with an estimated $26,662 in debt—slightly below the national median for similar programs—but the earnings picture is harder to evaluate. Based on national data from comparable programs, first-year earnings would be around $36,340, which would make the debt manageable at 73% of first-year income. However, Hawaii's actual Liberal Arts graduates tell a different story: the state median earnings are just $24,831, far below what national patterns suggest, with UH Manoa's liberal arts grads earning only $20,074 in their first year.

This disconnect matters because Hawaii's job market and cost of living are unique. While the estimated national figure suggests reasonable outcomes, Hawaii's liberal arts programs consistently produce lower earnings than their mainland counterparts. If UH Hilo follows the Hawaii pattern rather than the national one, graduates would face debt exceeding their entire first-year salary—a precarious financial position in one of the nation's most expensive states.

Given UH Hilo's 90% admission rate and the reality that Hawaii's liberal arts programs underperform national benchmarks, assume earnings closer to the $25,000-$30,000 range. At that level, the debt burden becomes concerning. Unless your child has specific career plans that leverage this degree effectively in Hawaii's limited job market, or you can substantially reduce borrowing, the numbers suggest caution.