Hawaii Pacific University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%; freshman retention is below 65%. solid earnings of $56,400 within 10 years.
About This School
Hawaii Pacific University is a private nonprofit institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii with approximately 2,392 undergraduate students enrolled. Hawaii Pacific University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 86%. The average net price after financial aid is $29,657 per year. The graduation rate is 35%, and the typical graduate earns $56,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU) is a private university in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States. Oceanic Institute of HPU, an aquaculture research facility, is located at Makapuʻu Point. HPU is also present on military installations on the island of Oʻahu.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 41% graduation rate and 57% freshman retention rate suggest many students don't finish, which is a real red flag worth taking seriously before committing. On the upside, median debt at graduation is a low $12,000, and the Honolulu location with ties to military installations and marine research offers genuinely unique opportunities you won't find at most small private universities. Worth considering if you're drawn to the Pacific region, have a clear academic plan, and have honestly assessed what support you'll need to be among the students who actually cross the finish line.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 9% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Hawaii Pacific University graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($112,964 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($85,936 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 122 | $112,964 | $88,910 | +$24,054 |
| Psychology, General | 46 | $58,721 | $50,706 | +$8,015 |
| Biology, General | 21 | $49,335 | $57,214 | −$7,879 |
| Computer Science | 11 | $85,936 | $107,009 | −$21,073 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,392 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Hawaii
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Laie, HI · Private nonprofit
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, HI · Private nonprofit
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Kapolei, HI · Public
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, HI · Public
Honolulu Community College
Honolulu, HI · Public
University of Hawaii Maui College
Kahului, HI · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Hawaii Pacific University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Hawaii Pacific University?
Hawaii Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 86%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Hawaii Pacific University hard to get into?
Not especially. Hawaii Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 86%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Hawaii Pacific University cost?
The average net price at Hawaii Pacific University is about $29,657 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Hawaii Pacific University?
Hawaii Pacific University has a graduation rate of 35%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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