Hawaii Pacific University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It enrolls 2,392 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
43/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes9
Value21
Affordability19
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85.9%, Hawaii Pacific University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
998 – 1200
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Hawaii Pacific University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Hawaii Pacific University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,657 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,657
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
23%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,392
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,050
Room & Board (off-campus)
$21,050
Books & Supplies
$872
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,674
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$25,758
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,413
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,979
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,450
Over $110,000
$33,540
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,000Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,238
↓ $8,762
No Pell $10,500
↓ $11,500
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $11,000
Independent students $12,500
↓ $9,500
Female students $12,000
↓ $10,000
Male students $11,718
↓ $10,282
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($22,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of $59,593 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,593
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,300, about 12% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Hawaii Pacific University is home to 2,392 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,392
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 28.1%673
Hispanic 25.0%598
Other 18.6%445
Asian 15.7%375
Black 6.5%156
International 4.4%105
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Hawaii Pacific University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityHonolulu, Hawaii
Housing
Partly residential712 beds available
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Hawaii Pacific University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
55 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hawaii Pacific University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$66M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,397
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
181 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
27
15%
$100,738
Associate Professors
46
25%
$86,802
Assistant Professors
70
39%
$80,626
Instructors
10
6%
$65,931
Lecturers
28
15%
$61,316
Pros & Cons of Hawaii Pacific University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hawaii Pacific University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Hawaii Pacific University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hawaii Pacific University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hawaii Pacific University.
Is Hawaii Pacific University hard to get into?
Hawaii Pacific University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Hawaii Pacific University?
Hawaii Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 85.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Hawaii Pacific University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hawaii Pacific University scored between 998 and 1200 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Hawaii Pacific University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hawaii Pacific University scored between 19 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Hawaii Pacific University cost?
The average net price after aid at Hawaii Pacific University is $29,657 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Hawaii Pacific University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,593 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,657 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Hawaii Pacific University known for?
Hawaii Pacific University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Hawaii Pacific University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Hawaii Pacific University are $59,593, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Hawaii Pacific University accredited?
Yes. Hawaii Pacific University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Hawaii Pacific University?
Hawaii Pacific University enrolls 2,392 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Hawaii Pacific University?
Hawaii Pacific University graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hawaii Pacific University a public or private college?
Hawaii Pacific University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Hawaii Pacific University located?
Hawaii Pacific University is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
What programs does Hawaii Pacific University offer?
Hawaii Pacific University offers 55 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hawaii Pacific University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hawaii Pacific University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Hawaii
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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