Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The estimated $23,350 debt burden from comparable programs appears manageable at first glance—putting this program's debt-to-earnings ratio at a reasonable 0.52. But that calculation masks a troubling pattern: earnings actually decline 11% between year one and year four, falling from $44,853 to $39,725. For a program designed to launch entrepreneurs and small business operators, this downward trajectory raises real questions about whether graduates are finding sustainable career paths or struggling to make their ventures profitable.

Peer entrepreneurship programs nationally suggest similar first-year outcomes, with UH Manoa landing right at the median. However, most bachelor's degree programs show earnings growth over time as graduates gain experience. The decline here may reflect the particular challenges of Hawaii's business environment—high costs, limited markets, geographic isolation—or it could indicate that many graduates pivot away from entrepreneurship entirely. With only three schools in Hawaii offering this degree, options are limited, but this pattern deserves scrutiny.

The debt itself isn't catastrophic, but taking on $23,000 to potentially earn less four years later than you did as a new graduate is a risky proposition. If your child is genuinely committed to entrepreneurship, understanding why earnings decline for this cohort—and whether they have specific advantages or business ideas that might buck that trend—is essential before committing to this path.