Human Resources Management and Services at University of Phoenix-Hawaii

University of Phoenix-Hawaii graduates in HR start strong at $58,000—landing in the 85th percentile nationally and the 60th percentile among Hawaii programs—but their earnings drop to $52,000 by year four. That's unusual and concerning. At the same time, the debt load is substantial: at $50,470, it's nearly double the national median for HR programs and considerably higher than the state median of $32,000. You're essentially paying premium tuition for outcomes that begin well but deteriorate, creating a debt burden that takes years to outgrow.

The numbers require context. While first-year earnings beat UH Manoa by $13,000, that advantage may not last given the downward trajectory. The 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable initially, but becomes less comfortable as income falls. For a program that ranks in the bottom 5th percentile nationally for debt, families should ask hard questions about why costs are so high relative to peers—especially when Hawaii's limited market for HR roles makes mobility after graduation more challenging.

If your child can secure similar starting salaries elsewhere with less debt—particularly at a public university—that's the safer bet. If University of Phoenix offers unique scheduling flexibility for working adults or specific corporate connections in Hawaii, the premium might justify itself, but only if you're confident about the reason behind that earnings decline.