Gender Studies Degree in Honolulu, HI — Salary & ROI 2026
Gender Studies degree analysis for Honolulu, HI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Honolulu
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Gender Studies in Honolulu, HI Overview
Honolulu, Hawaii (pop. 350,964) has 12 colleges offering Gender Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,330/month. Although national enrollment in Gender Studies has been declining, graduates with skills in Critical Theory and Research Methods remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Honolulu is approximately $60,500.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$12,186/yr
Private Tuition
$27,060/yr
Room & Board
$12,570/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,299/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
54%
Gender Studies Salary in Honolulu (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Honolulu's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Gender Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Honolulu adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Gender Studies ROI Calculator for Honolulu
Estimate your return on investment for a Gender Studies degree using local Honolulu tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,186 | Private avg: $27,060
Honolulu avg aid: $12,299/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,150
vs HS diploma in Honolulu
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Honolulu
$58,276
Lifetime earnings premium ($157,300) minus total education cost ($99,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Gender Studies in Honolulu
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Honolulu for Gender Studies
University of Hawaii at Manoa
public
$12,186/yr
$48,744 total
Chaminade University of Honolulu
private
$27,060/yr
$108,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Honolulu Community College
$3,432/yr
Top Employers for Gender Studies in Honolulu
Honolulu offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Gender Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Honolulu Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Gender Studies Job Titles
Other Humanities Majors in Honolulu
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Gender Studies Degree in Honolulu — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Gender Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Honolulu.