Cost of college in Hawaii
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Hawaii averages $10,499 a year, or $14,048 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $54,146 and owe about $17,798. The net price pays back in about 4.6 years.
How Hawaii compares to the US
Hawaii ranks #22 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #30 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #27 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Hawaii | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $10,499 | $9,518 | +$981 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $29,206 | $23,652 | +$5,554 |
| Net price after aid | $14,048 | $13,788 | +$260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $54,146 | $56,427 | -$2,281 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,798 | $17,856 | -$58 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Hawaii pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Hawaii costs about $56,192 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.6 years from the roughly $12,346-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #27 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Hawaii list about $21,857 in tuition and net out to about $24,094 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Hawaii?
At a public 4-year college in Hawaii, in-state tuition and fees average about $10,499 a year and out-of-state runs about $29,206. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $14,048. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Hawaii earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Hawaii's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $54,146 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $17,798 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Hawaii?
A public 4-year degree in Hawaii costs about $56,192 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.6 years from the roughly $12,346-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.