Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2024
Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Hawaii.
Best Private Colleges in Hawaii
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
- Hawaii Pacific University 87%
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii 34%
- Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii 15 to 1
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
- Hawaii Pacific University $31,940
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii $6,250
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200
- Hawaii Pacific University $20,306
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii 34%
- Hawaii Pacific University 87%
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii 15 to 1
- Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii $6,250
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
- Hawaii Pacific University $31,940
- Hawaii Pacific University $20,306
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200
Colleges and Universities in Hawaiʻi
The majority of the universities and colleges in The Aloha State are public institutions, including Hawaiʻi’s largest school, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The nearly 15,000 students who attend this school pay tuition fees around $12,000. Students attending public colleges can choose between a wide range of on campus and online degree programs.
It’s also worth noting that you can receive in-state tuition discount rates for attending a public college in Hawaii, whether you enroll through a traditional or online degree program.
Hawaiʻi also offers several private school options, including two which have religious affiliations. While tuition at these private schools varies, from $6,000 at Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi to $26,000 at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, each serves between 2,000-3,000 students.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
Students who attend both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Hawaii have the option to major in fields like biology, education, history, criminal justice, physics, and many others. However, students who graduate with degrees in the health care field have an extra advantage. Hawaiʻi offers a student loan forgiveness-based financial aid program for health care workers who work at designated, high-need locations within the state for at least two years.
So, even though Hawaiʻi comes in just above the national average for tuition costs, if you are considering a career in health care, this may be the place for you.
Some dream of vacationing in paradise - but why not take it a step further and live there? Students attending school in Hawaiʻi won’t have to say aloha, or goodbye, to the beautiful white sand beaches, perfect waves, and tropical drinks. Both traditional and online students can enroll in one of Hawaiʻi’s 15 higher education institutes and live their best life in these picturesque island communities.
For more information on obtaining your degree in Hawaiʻi, explore some of the top programs and schools this state has to offer.
What are Hawaiʻi’s Colleges & Universities?
- 2 Research Universities
- 5 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 2 Graduate Schools
- 4 Public Colleges & Universities
- 3 Private Colleges & Universities
- 5 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 6 Community Colleges
- 6 Online Colleges
Hawaiʻi’s Best Overall
What is the difference between public and private colleges?
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 3 private universities in Hawaii. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Hawaii, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Best Private Colleges in Hawaii
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Hawaii 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Hawaii
- #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Hawaii 2024
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Hawaii 2024
- #9 Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Administration Degree Programs for 2025
- #12 Best Online Associate in Mathematics
- #19 Best Online Associate in Business Administration
- #20 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
45%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/23
Career Outlook for degree at Hawaii Pacific University
Cost of Degree: $31,940Expenses: $18,878Starting Salary: $56,400Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Hawaii Pacific University known for?
Hawaii Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Nursing
- Literature
- Business
- Political Science
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Earth Sciences
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Hawaii Pacific University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Resource Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #23 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Hawaii 2024
- #2 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
- #3 Best Online MBA Programs in Hawaii
- #3 Best Online Master's Programs in Hawaii 2024
- #4 Best Online Colleges in Hawaii 2024
- #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Religious Studies Degree Programs for 2024
- #9 Best Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Degree Programs
- #16 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
- #16 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts
- #17 Best Online Bachelor’s of Elementary Education Degree Programs for 2025
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
66%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Chaminade University of Honolulu
Cost of Degree: $28,544Expenses: $19,890Starting Salary: $41,000Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Chaminade University of Honolulu known for?
Chaminade University of Honolulu’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Business
- Biology
- Political Science
- Education
- Religious Studies
- Computer Science
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Online Degrees
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Early Childhood Education
Degree Concentrations
- Montessori Credential
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Elementary Education For Oceania
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Special Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in English
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Historical And Political Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Religious Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #5 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
66%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1129/22
Career Outlook for degree at Brigham Young University–Hawaii
Cost of Degree: $6,250Expenses: $16,857Starting Salary: $49,100Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Brigham Young University–Hawaii known for?
Brigham Young University–Hawaii’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Physics
- Political Science
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Education
- Mathematics
- History
- Business
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Hawaii’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.