Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Hawaii at Manoa

With first-year earnings of $94,216 and minimal debt of $15,308, UH Manoa's nursing program delivers exceptional financial outcomes—outperforming 95% of nursing programs nationwide while costing about half what graduates typically borrow. That 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates earn their entire debt load back in roughly two months, an unusually strong financial position for new nurses.

The state context reveals an interesting wrinkle: while UH Manoa ranks at the 60th percentile among Hawaii's five nursing programs (slightly above the state median of $84,401), only the University of Phoenix-Hawaii posts higher earnings. More importantly, UH Manoa achieves this with dramatically lower debt—Hawaii's median nursing graduate carries $26,875 in loans, nearly double what UH Manoa students borrow. The 70% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest this program is accessible to solid students who don't necessarily have elite credentials.

The steady earnings growth to $99,132 by year four indicates Hawaii's healthcare market rewards experience, and graduates aren't hitting an early ceiling. For families concerned about nursing school costs spiraling out of control, this program demonstrates you can get strong outcomes at a flagship public institution without the debt burden typical of many mainland programs.