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Psychology at University of Hawaii at Hilo

Hilo, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $26,857/yr (-15% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #356 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$504K	$503K	$471K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.1x	16.1x	15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.1x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	36

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$31,352

Out-of-state: $83,192 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$48,252

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,751

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,110

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,857 place University of Hawaii at Hilo below the $31,705 national median for Psychology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,751 represents roughly 8 months of the $26,857 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #356 of 926 Psychology programs, University of Hawaii at Hilo scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $45,110 show a 68% jump from the $26,857 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Hawaii at Hilo

University of Hawaii at Hilo accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,260 students in Hilo, HI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Hawaii at Hilo →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Hawaii at Hilo

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at University of Hawaii at Hilo?

A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Psychology careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $470,811 in decade earnings vs $504,382 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Psychology from University of Hawaii at Hilo?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →