Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Hawaii-West Oahu

At first glance, this business degree comes with an attractive debt load—$17,750 is well below both state and national medians. But the earnings tell a more sobering story. One year out, graduates earn $38,495, placing this program in just the 19th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Hawaii. That means grads are earning less than 80% of business degree holders nationwide and fall in the middle of Hawaii's pack, despite the state's higher cost of living. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 looks manageable on paper, but when earnings themselves are below market, that calculus becomes less reassuring.

The 23% earnings bump by year four—from roughly $38,500 to $47,200—shows graduates can make progress, but they're still earning $5,500 less annually than the typical Hawaii business grad and nearly $2,000 below the national median four years out. For context, University of Phoenix-Hawaii grads in the same field earn $58,268 early on, while even UH Manoa matches higher median outcomes. Given that UH West Oahu's open admission policy suggests it serves students who might not access more selective programs, the real question is whether the lower debt justifies the earnings gap. For students who can commute from home and minimize additional costs, the combination of accessibility and modest debt could work—but families should understand they're trading earning potential for affordability, and that tradeoff persists well into graduates' careers.