Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration at University of Hawaii at Hilo

This program ranks in the top 5% nationally for pharmacy-related earnings, yet it sits at just the 60th percentile within Hawaii—which tells you everything about Hawaii's healthcare compensation market. First-year graduates earn $63,776, already 29% above the national median for pharmacy bachelor's programs, and that figure doubles to $128,695 by year four. That 102% earnings growth is exceptional and likely reflects graduates moving into licensed pharmacist roles or specialized pharmaceutical positions.

The $20,500 in median debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32, meaning graduates owe about four months of their first-year salary. That's manageable by any standard, especially given where earnings head. The program serves a meaningful number of Pell Grant recipients (40% of the broader student body), making it accessible to middle-income Hawaii families who might otherwise struggle to afford pharmacy education on the mainland.

Here's the practical reality: University of Hawaii at Hilo offers the only pharmacy-related bachelor's program in the state, so the state percentile comparison is somewhat academic. What matters is that graduates earn significantly more than their mainland peers while carrying less debt, positioning them well whether they stay in Hawaii's high-cost-of-living market or pursue opportunities elsewhere. For Hawaii families, this represents one of the clearest value propositions in healthcare education—strong earnings trajectory with minimal debt burden.