Best Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Here are the best colleges and universities in Hawaii. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.
Best Colleges in Hawaii
- Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
- Hawaii Pacific University $30,020
- Hawaii Pacific University $20,250
- Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
- Hawaii Pacific University $30,020
- Hawaii Pacific University $20,250
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
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
We’ve identified 7 colleges and universities in Hawaii that meet our criteria. This list of the top colleges in Hawaii below focuses on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees. The ranking features fully accredited public and private colleges and universities in Hawaii.
Best Colleges in Hawaii 2022
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #1 Best Grad Schools in Hawaii 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
59%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/24
What is University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa known for?
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Earth Sciences
- Communications
- Biology
- Physics
- Political Science
- Law
- Chemistry
- Psychology
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Online Degrees
BA in Economics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Human Relations In Organizations
- Social Sciences Of Oceans
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSW in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Women'S, Gender, And Sexuality Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
42%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/20
What is Hawaii Pacific University known for?
Hawaii Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Nursing
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Business
- Computer Science
- Medical
- Biology
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
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 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
66%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/20
What is Chaminade University of Honolulu known for?
Chaminade University of Honolulu’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Biology
- Political Science
- Education
- Computer Science
- History
- Literature
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 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #2 Best Grad Schools in Hawaii 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
43%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/19
What is University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo known for?
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Anthropology
- Literature
- Biology
- Education
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
Most Influential Alumni
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #3 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
71%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/23
What is Brigham Young University–Hawaii known for?
Brigham Young University–Hawaii’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Social Work
- Political Science
- Education
- Physics
- History
- Biology
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
31%
Student body
1K
What is University of Hawaiʻi Maui College known for?
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Online Degrees
BS in Applied Business And Information Technology
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/18
What is University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu known for?
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- General Business
- Accounting
- Hospitality And Tourism
- Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Disaster Preparedness And Emergency Management
- Justice Administration
- Community Health
- General Public Administration
- Healthcare Administration
- Long-Term Care
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Social Sciences
Degree Concentrations
- Early Childhood Education
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Hawaii’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.
