The University of Hawaii at Hilo says the first graduates of its pharmacy school have been hired for jobs in 16 states as well as Guam and Washington, D.C.

Many have also been able to stay in the islands — the university said Wednesday more than a third of graduates accepted jobs in Hawaii. The school graduated its inaugural class in May.

Sixty-six percent are working in a paid residency. Their average salary was $117,000.

The university reported the numbers on Wednesday based on the results of a graduate survey. Eighty of the 84 students who graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree answered the survey for a 95 percent response rate.