Animal Sciences at University of Hawaii at Manoa

This Animal Sciences program at UH Manoa comes with a significant asterisk: the sample size is too small (under 30 graduates) to draw confident conclusions. That said, the available data tells a story of manageable debt paired with below-average earnings. With $24,125 in median debt—well below the national median—and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77, graduates aren't drowning financially. The real question is whether $31,285 in first-year earnings (about $3,000 below the national median for this major) provides enough financial runway, especially in Honolulu where living costs are notoriously high.

The 29% earnings growth from year one to year four is encouraging, bringing graduates to just over $40,000 by their fourth year out. However, Hawaii offers virtually no comparison point—this appears to be the only Animal Sciences bachelor's program in the state. That isolation matters for parents weighing in-state tuition benefits: your child won't have other local options if they want to study this field close to home. The program ranks in the 27th percentile nationally for earnings, suggesting most Animal Sciences graduates elsewhere earn more, but graduates here avoid the heavy debt loads common at many peer institutions.

For families committed to keeping their student in Hawaii and interested in animal sciences specifically, this is your only in-state option. Just understand the financial reality: modest starting salaries in an expensive city, though the debt burden won't become unmanageable. The small graduate cohort also means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.