Head-to-head comparison
Brigham Young University-Hawaii vs Chaminade University of Honolulu: which has better ROI?
Option A Laie, HI
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
- Net price / year
- $16,774
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,064
- Payback
- 18.1 yrs
Option B Honolulu, HI
Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Net price / year
- $28,856
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,343
- Payback
- 29 yrs
Brigham Young University-Hawaii has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $67,096 in 18.1 years versus 29 years at Chaminade University of Honolulu, on median earnings of $52,064 vs $52,343 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | Chaminade University of Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,774 | $28,856 |
| Total net cost | $67,096 | $115,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,064 | $52,343 |
| Median debt | $9,413 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 18.1 yrs | 29 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $6,984 | -$35,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Brigham Young University-Hawaii or Chaminade University of Honolulu?
Brigham Young University-Hawaii, at $16,774 a year after aid versus $28,856 — a gap of $12,082 a year, or $48,328 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Brigham Young University-Hawaii or Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates earn more?
Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates report a median $52,343 ten years after entry, $279 more than the $52,064 at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Brigham Young University-Hawaii or Chaminade University of Honolulu?
Brigham Young University-Hawaii: its completers carry a median $9,413 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Chaminade University of Honolulu, a difference of $13,837. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Chaminade University of Honolulu, against 53% at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.