Head-to-head comparison
Brigham Young University-Hawaii vs Hawaii Pacific University: 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
Hawaii Pacific University
- Net price / year
- $29,657
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,593
- Payback
- 10.6 yrs
Hawaii Pacific University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,628 in 10.6 years versus 18.1 years at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, on median earnings of $59,593 vs $52,064 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | Hawaii Pacific University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,774 | $29,657 |
| Total net cost | $67,096 | $118,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,064 | $59,593 |
| Median debt | $9,413 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 18.1 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $6,984 | $106,032 |
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 Hawaii Pacific University?
Brigham Young University-Hawaii, at $16,774 a year after aid versus $29,657 — a gap of $12,883 a year, or $51,532 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 Hawaii Pacific University graduates earn more?
Hawaii Pacific University graduates report a median $59,593 ten years after entry, $7,529 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 Hawaii Pacific University?
Brigham Young University-Hawaii: its completers carry a median $9,413 in federal loans versus $22,000 at Hawaii Pacific University, a difference of $12,587. 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?
53% of students finish at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, against 35% at Hawaii Pacific University. 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.