International Business at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The most striking feature of UH Manoa's International Business program is the earnings trajectory: graduates start at $50,923—already slightly above the national median—but see their income drop 8% by year four to $46,964. However, with only a handful of graduates tracked, this pattern could reflect a few individuals changing careers or pursuing graduate school rather than a systemic program weakness. Among Hawaii's four schools offering this degree, UH Manoa sits at the 60th percentile, suggesting middle-of-the-pack performance in-state despite being the state's flagship university.

The $19,000 median debt is genuinely competitive, coming in nearly $4,500 below the national median and representing just 37% of first-year earnings. This favorable debt load matters especially given Hawaii's high cost of living, where financial flexibility right after graduation can make a real difference. The program places slightly above average nationally (53rd percentile), though it doesn't command the premium you might expect from Hawaii's premier public university.

The small sample size makes this a risky bet to analyze definitively. If your student is interested in international business specifically and plans to stay in Hawaii—where Pacific Rim connections matter—the reasonable debt and established institutional reputation offer some security. But the earnings decline and middling position among in-state options warrant a serious conversation about whether this particular major offers enough differentiation to justify four years of focused study.