Computer Scienceat University of Hawaii at Manoa
Graduates earn $42,874/yr in their first year — about 42.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $848K; scenarios range from $660K to $883K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Hawaii at Manoa
While the national tech scene is dominated by massive firms in major hubs, your career path from UH Manoa will likely look different. Hawaii’s economy is unique, centered on tourism, federal government contracts, and military defense—not venture-backed startups. This means your first job might involve developing logistics software for a shipping company or building IT systems for a resort chain, rather than working at a FAANG campus. The lower early-career earnings reflect this smaller, more specialized local market, which has fewer high-paying roles competing for new talent.
To maximize your opportunities, your key action is to aggressively pursue remote work or mainland internships *before* you graduate. Building a network and resume that extends beyond the islands will give you the option to either compete for top-tier remote salaries while enjoying the local lifestyle or relocate for a higher-paying position after graduation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Hawaii at Manoa's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How University of Hawaii at Manoa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Hawaii at Manoa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Hawaii at Manoa, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Science at University of Hawaii at Manoa
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
This program scores 71/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Computer Science programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Computer Science careers?
With 72% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $659,643 in decade earnings vs $883,141 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Computer Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa?
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.