Public Health at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The $27,309 first-year salary from UH Manoa's public health bachelor's program sits $10,000 below the national median—a significant gap that parents need to understand upfront. While this lands in the 60th percentile among Hawaii's two public health programs, that's cold comfort when Hawaii has one of the nation's highest costs of living and this salary barely clears subsistence wages in Honolulu.

The debt load of $22,500 is manageable in absolute terms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0. However, the real challenge isn't whether your child can technically afford the payments—it's whether they can build a life on this income. At the national level, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile for earnings, meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide prepare graduates for better-paying jobs. The state comparison offers little relief when both Hawaii programs cluster at the bottom of national rankings.

For families considering this path, understand that many public health roles requiring only a bachelor's degree are administrative or entry-level positions with limited advancement without graduate credentials. If your child is passionate about public health, this could be a stepping stone to a master's degree where career prospects improve substantially. But as a standalone credential in an expensive state, the immediate financial return is weak. Consider whether your student might achieve similar public health impact through related fields like nursing or health administration that offer stronger bachelor's-level earnings.