Natural Resources Management and Policy at University of Hawaii at Manoa

UH Manoa's Natural Resources Management program produces graduates earning $20,825 in their first year—less than $11 per hour if working full-time. This places it in the 5th percentile nationally among similar programs, where the typical graduate earns $37,946. That's a staggering $17,000 gap that should concern any parent investing in a four-year degree. While it's the only program of its kind in Hawaii (making the 60th state percentile meaningless), that geographic monopoly doesn't change the economic reality: these earnings fall well below poverty guidelines for a family and barely above them for a single person.

The debt load of $19,835 is actually below the national median for this field, which counts as good news. However, when your graduate owes nearly a full year's salary (0.95 debt-to-earnings ratio), even moderate debt becomes difficult to manage. The typical natural resources graduate nationwide carries $25,000 in debt but earns enough to make payments manageable—that's not the case here.

Hawaii's unique economy and high cost of living make this particularly challenging. Unless your child has specific career plans in Hawaiian conservation or natural resource policy where they've identified employers and realistic salary progressions, this program represents a risky investment. The debt is manageable in absolute terms, but only if paired with substantially higher earnings than this data suggests graduates achieve.