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Public Administration at University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Kapolei, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,481/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)

ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #23 of 45 Public Administration programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$527K	$524K	$488K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	17.3x	16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.4x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,336

Out-of-state: $82,176 (6.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,664

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,687

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,361

26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,481/yr, roughly in line with the $49,353 national median for Public Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $42,481 far exceeding the $13,687 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #23 of 45 Public Administration programs, University of Hawaii-West Oahu falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $42,481 to $53,361 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Hawaii-West Oahu

University of Hawaii-West Oahu accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 2,510 students in Kapolei, HI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Hawaii-West Oahu →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Construction managers $106,980/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at University of Hawaii-West Oahu?

This program scores 65/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Public Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Public Administration careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $487,512 in decade earnings vs $527,285 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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