Management Information Systems and Services at University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaii at Manoa's MIS program offers one of the most affordable paths to this career field—graduates carry just $13,133 in debt, dramatically less than the $24,000 national median. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24, most graduates could feasibly pay off their loans within a year or two. That's the program's standout advantage, though it comes with a tradeoff: first-year earnings of $53,758 lag behind the national median of $59,490 by about $6,000.

The earnings picture improves to nearly $62,000 by year four, showing solid 15% growth, but Hawaii's limited tech sector likely constrains income potential compared to mainland markets. Within Hawaii, this program performs at the 60th percentile—middle of the pack for the state—but that's based on just two schools offering MIS degrees. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reasonably reliable, though not definitive.

For families prioritizing minimal debt and planning to stay in Hawaii, this program delivers practical training without financial burden. However, students with geographic flexibility might find stronger earning potential at mainland programs, even after accounting for higher debt loads. The key question is whether avoiding $10,000+ in additional debt offsets earning $6,000 less annually in those critical early career years.