Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023

By James Barham

Published: Mar 25, 2021
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Hawaii offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.

University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 95%
Chaminade University of Honolulu 90%
Brigham Young University–Hawaii 88%
Hawaii Pacific University 85%

University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 19 to 1
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College 16 to 1
Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
Brigham Young University–Hawaii 16 to 1
Chaminade University of Honolulu 10 to 1

Hawaii Pacific University $30,020
Chaminade University of Honolulu $27,454
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu $7,344
Brigham Young University–Hawaii $6,068
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College $3,144

Chaminade University of Honolulu $27,720
Hawaii Pacific University $20,250

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
Brigham Young University–Hawaii
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Hawaii Pacific University

Hawaii Pacific University 85%
Brigham Young University–Hawaii 88%
Chaminade University of Honolulu 90%
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 95%

Chaminade University of Honolulu 10 to 1
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College 16 to 1
Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
Brigham Young University–Hawaii 16 to 1
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 19 to 1

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College $3,144
Brigham Young University–Hawaii $6,068
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu $7,344
Chaminade University of Honolulu $27,454
Hawaii Pacific University $30,020

Hawaii Pacific University $20,250
Chaminade University of Honolulu $27,720

Table of Contents

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?

Hawaiʻi’s Best Overall

How do we determine Hawaii's best liberal arts colleges ?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 5 liberal arts colleges in Hawaii. To be ranked among the 30 best liberal arts colleges in Hawaii, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2022

#1
Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu , HI
#1 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #2 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Hawaii 2023
Other Rankings
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
Economics
Business
Literature
Computer Science
Political Science
Biology
Criminal Justice
Earth Sciences

Most Influential Alumni

Sarah Palin
Tulsi Gabbard
Akebono Tarō
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
Compare school
#2
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu , HI
#23 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #3 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Other Rankings
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
Biology
Education
Political Science
Religious Studies
Computer Science
History
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Danny Yamashiro
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
Compare school
#3
Brigham Young University–Hawaii
Laie , HI
#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 #5 Best 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:

Social Work
Physics
Anthropology
Political Science
Education
Biology
History
Mathematics
Business
Computer Science

Most Influential Alumni

William G. Eggington
Compare school
#4
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
Kahului , HI
#3 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #6 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Hawaii
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online 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:

Education
Business
Medical
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Online Degrees
BS in Applied Business And Information Technology

Required Credits: 121
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
Kapolei , HI
#4 Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #7 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2023 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Hawaii
Other Rankings
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:

Sociology
Political Science
Education
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
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Hawaii’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

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.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2023

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii

Colleges and Universities in Hawaiʻi

What are Hawaiʻi’s Colleges & Universities?

Hawaiʻi’s Best Overall

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2022

Hawaii Pacific University

Most Influential Alumni

Hawaii Pacific University’s Online Degrees

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Most Influential Alumni

Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Most Influential Alumni

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Online Degrees

University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu

University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Hawaii’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest