Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa produces some of the highest-earning education graduates in the country, with first-year earnings of $50,401—putting this program in the 95th percentile nationally and nearly $9,000 above typical teaching grads elsewhere. The debt burden is notably light at $19,334, about $7,000 below the national median and resulting in a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio that makes this program highly accessible. For families worried about the financial viability of a teaching career, these numbers paint an unusually favorable picture.

The state context matters here: while this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Hawaii's four teacher prep programs, that's less about underperformance and more about Hawaii's generally strong compensation for educators. Starting salaries around $50,000 reflect the state's cost-of-living adjustments and union contracts that make teaching more financially sustainable than in many mainland states. The modest 2% earnings growth over four years is typical for K-12 teachers who follow structured salary schedules.

For parents considering an education degree, this represents one of the strongest financial outcomes available in the field. The combination of above-average starting pay and below-average debt creates a manageable entry point into teaching, especially for students committed to working in Hawaii's public schools where these salary levels are standard.