There are three fashion schools in Hawaii with different types of fashion degrees. Although the average cost of tuition is $4,803, tuition costs range from $2,424 to $8,664. University of Hawaii at Manoa has impressive scholarships awards; the average scholarship award here is $4,365.
At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, you can look into specialized scholarships like the Fashion Design and Merchandising Centennial Scholarship. This scholarship is for Hawaii residents that have completed at least two semesters as a fashion design or merchandising student. The J. Watumull Merit Scholarship, a fashion scholarship based on academic merit, is another option.
Starting a fashion career is the next exciting step after earning a degree. Retailers, fashion design companies, and marketing firms are all major employers of fashion graduates. Some of the biggest fashion employers in Hawaii are GAP In., Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc., and Express Fashion. Hawaii has a very low unemployment rate, making this a great time to start a career. The unemployment rate is currently 4.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The salary you earn as a fashion professional depends on how much experience you have; the more experience you gain, the better your earning potential. Merchandise displayers earn an average salary of $29,960 per year (BLS, 2012). Marketing specialists earn an average salary of $54,230 per year (BLS, 2012).