Sociology at University of Hawaii at Hilo

At $24,414 one year after graduation, UH Hilo's sociology program starts graduates nearly $10,000 below the national median—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's a significant gap, though there's modest consolation in the Hawaii context: among the state's three sociology programs, this sits right in the middle at the 40th percentile, reflecting Hawaii's generally lower wage structure. Still, even UH Manoa's sociology grads earn about $3,400 more initially. With $23,705 in typical debt, graduates face a debt load nearly matching their entire first-year salary, making those early years financially tight.

The positive trajectory here is the 31% earnings growth to $32,040 by year four, suggesting graduates eventually find better-positioned roles. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable—outcomes for your student could vary considerably from these medians.

For families considering this program, recognize you're looking at several years of lean earnings after graduation, even accounting for Hawaii's cost of living. If your student is committed to sociology and plans to stay in Hawaii, this program won't disadvantage them much compared to alternatives in-state. But if career earnings matter significantly, exploring either different majors at UH Hilo or sociology at Manoa would likely yield better financial returns.