Best Grad Schools in Hawaii 2025

Badge for BEST IN HAWAII GRADUATE SCHOOLS
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Published:
Updated:

Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in Hawaii offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.

Key Takeaways

  • Hawaii’s best grad schools often emphasize unique programs in marine biology, environmental studies, and sustainability, giving students hands-on experience with the islands’ unique ecosystems and ocean resources.
  • The best graduate programs in Hawaii incorporate Hawaiian culture, history, and values, fostering a deeper understanding of the local heritage and offering courses in Hawaiian language, traditional land stewardship, and cultural practices.
  • Hawaii’s geographic location offers proximity to the Pacific and Asia, allowing for diverse international partnerships and research opportunities for grad students, especially in fields like Pacific studies, international relations, and environmental conservation.

Best Grad Schools in Hawaii in 2025

  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

There are no changes to our ranking of the best grad schools in Hawaii for 2025. This was a result of all the schools in the ranking making similar improvements to their curriculum, internship opportunities, and other program features.

There are 2 doctorate-granting graduate schools in Hawaii. Our ranking of the best graduate schools in the Hawaii is composed of both private and public schools. To be included, schools must be fully accredited non-profit institutions, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad array of graduate degrees.

Best Grad Schools in Hawaii

  1. #1

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Honolulu , HI
    #1 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2025 #1 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #1 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/21

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Cost of Degree: $12,186
    Expenses: $20,145
    Starting Salary: $51,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a wide range of graduate programs, offering graduate programs in oceanography, tropical medicine, and Hawaiian studies. The university integrates cultural perspectives into many of its graduate curriculums, offering a variety of community engagement opportunities.

    What we love about the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa:

    Through the Beyond Graduate School platform, graduate students can access various materials on career exploration, resume writing, and job interview tips.

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is ideal for students who:

    Seek an advanced degree in telecommunications or information resource management.

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa might not be the best fit for students who:

    Prefer more on-campus housing options to choose from.

    Compare school
  2. #2

    University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

    Hilo , HI
    #2 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    84%

    Graduation

    42%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1080/18

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

    Cost of Degree: $7,838
    Expenses: $13,584
    Starting Salary: $41,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo offers a supportive environment that promotes cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding among graduate students. Here, graduate students have access to research opportunities in areas like environmental conservation and marine biology.

    What we love about the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo:

    With a strong emphasis on indigenous culture, the university offers graduate programs in areas such as Kahuawaiola indigenous teacher education and heritage management.

    The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is ideal for students who:

    Are looking for on-campus medical and counseling services.

    The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo might not be the best fit for students who:

    Seek graduate programs in engineering.

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Hawaii’s Best Grad School for Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
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.

  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
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