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Hawaii ranks last among all 50 states for college graduates who want to buy a house, according to a new study from OnlineDegrees.com.
The analysis ranked the states on their earning potential, housing prices and projected job growth to determine which ones offer holders of bachelor’s degrees both the ability to buy a home and the most financial flexibility after doing so. Texas, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and Washington were ranked the five best.
The study said Hawaii ranked last because the combination of one of the country’s most expensive housing markets and relatively low employment opportunities means there is limited opportunity for degree holders to purchase a home.
However, the study said the emerging and growing health care industry offers solid career and earnings potential in Hawaii in several areas, including dental hygiene and sonography. The study said Hawaii has a median house value of $500,400 and a median annual salary of $58,070. The median annual salaries listed for each state were only for careers related to the 25 degrees included in the study.
Using data from sources such as the American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Council for Community and Economic Research, OnlineDegrees.com ranked the 50 states on four factors:
>> Average annual salary for grads with 25 in-demand degrees.
>> Approximate salary remaining after paying the annual mortgage and homeowner costs for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage on a median-value home.
>> Employment potential, based on the number of new jobs projected and job concentration for a featured career associated with each degree.
>> Cost of living.
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