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Social Sciences at University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Kapolei, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,388/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #54 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $455K $459K $441K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.0x 15.1x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.6x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 61% 54% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 52

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 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,664
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,610
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,676
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Hawaii-West Oahu's Social Sciences program produces graduates earning $34,388/yr — within striking distance of the $38,652 national average for this field.

The 15.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,610 in median debt clears quickly against $34,388 in annual earnings.

At #54 out of 76 programs, University of Hawaii-West Oahu's financial outcomes for Social Sciences trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $34,388 to $41,676 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Hawaii-West Oahu

A 96% acceptance rate means University of Hawaii-West Oahu is accessible to most applicants, 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Statisticians $103,300/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 76 schools offering Social Sciences →

Social Sciences at Other Schools

Mercer University ($61,612) Vanderbilt University ($61,389) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($57,538) Harvard University ($56,540) Upper Iowa University ($56,221) Campbell University ($50,653) University of Maryland Global Campus ($50,557) New York University ($49,016)

Other Majors at University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Education, General ($52,079) Public Administration ($42,481) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($38,495) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($29,588)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Social Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Hawaii-West Oahu's Social Sciences program score?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Social Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →