Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies at University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 05.02
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies degree from University of Hawaii at Hilo earn a median salary of $54,252 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in HI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $29,485. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$37,716
Typical Career
$54,252
Top Performers
$64,050
Estimated break-even: 10.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$362
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,521. Most students can comfortably afford about a $362 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Hawaii buys what costs $1.84 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$29,485
Nominal: $54,252 in Hawaii (COL 184.0% of national avg) · 45.7% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $23,455 | $32,932 | $42,956 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,716 | $54,252 | $64,050 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $48,715 | $71,084 | $78,771 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $54,252 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in HI, which has a cost-of-living index of 184.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $54,252 × (1.0 ÷ 1.8400)
= $29,485 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance (23.4%), Educational Services (22.2%), and Retail Trade (12.2%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 10.1 years, indicating a moderate return on investment. While the degree may lead to fulfilling career paths, prospective students should consider the long-term financial implications and the impact of Hawaii's cost of living on their overall earnings potential.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies degree at University of Hawaii at Hilo stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.