Education at University of Hawaii at Manoa

First-year earnings of $60,288 put this program well above most education bachelor's programs nationally—95th percentile—though it lands in the middle of Hawaii's small education market. The estimated $24,333 in debt (based on national patterns for similar University of Hawaii programs) produces a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe about five months of salary. That's a manageable starting point for a teaching career, especially in a state where cost of living runs high.

The earnings figure deserves context: Hawaii's public school teacher salaries start significantly higher than mainland averages, which explains why education degrees here outperform national norms. This program edges out University of Hawaii-West Oahu's $52,079, suggesting UH Manoa may provide slightly better career placement or opportunities in higher-paying districts. However, with only two programs reporting data statewide, these differences could reflect small sample variations rather than meaningful program quality gaps.

The practical calculation is straightforward. If the debt estimate holds and graduates enter teaching at roughly $60,000, they're looking at monthly payments around $270 on a standard plan—tight but feasible in Honolulu's expensive rental market. The real variable is whether your child commits to teaching in Hawaii's public schools versus pursuing education careers elsewhere or leaving the field entirely, which would change the value equation considerably.