Sociology at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The first-year earnings here look alarming at just $27,859—landing this program in the bottom 5% nationally—but there's crucial context that changes the calculation. Against Hawaii's other sociology programs, this actually ranks in the 60th percentile, reflecting the state's generally lower wage structure across the board. More importantly, earnings nearly double by year four to $44,230, representing 59% growth that substantially outpaces the typical trajectory for social science graduates.

The $19,500 debt load is notably lower than both the national median ($25,000) and Hawaii's program average ($21,602), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 even with the soft initial landing. That first year will be tight financially—significantly below living wages in expensive Honolulu—but graduates who can weather that period through family support or supplemental work see meaningful income progression. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these outcomes are reasonably reliable, though not based on hundreds of data points.

For families able to support a child through a challenging first year in the workforce, this program offers a credible path to middle-income stability in Hawaii by the mid-career point. The value proposition depends entirely on having financial cushion during that initial period—without it, the below-poverty starting salary in one of America's most expensive cities becomes prohibitive regardless of the eventual upside.