Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2024

Badge for BEST IN HAWAII PUBLIC COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Hawaii provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

Best Public Colleges in Hawaii

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  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  3. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
  4. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  3. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
  4. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
  1. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 96%
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 84%
  3. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 73%
  1. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 17 to 1
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 14 to 1
  3. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College 13 to 1
  4. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 12 to 1
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa $11,304
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo $7,344
  3. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu $7,344
  4. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College $3,144
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa $15,600
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo $11,736
  1. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
  2. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
  3. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  4. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  1. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
  2. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
  3. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  4. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 73%
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 84%
  3. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 96%
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 12 to 1
  2. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College 13 to 1
  3. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 14 to 1
  4. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu 17 to 1
  1. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College $3,144
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo $7,344
  3. University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu $7,344
  4. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa $11,304
  1. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo $11,736
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa $15,600

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

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.

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This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 4 public universities in Hawaii. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Hawaii, schools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.

Public colleges in Hawaii also offer some of the best online MBA programs. For students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in business in Hawaii, check out our ranking.

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Best Public Colleges in Hawaii 2023

  1. #1

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Honolulu , HI
    #1 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2025 #1 Best Grad Schools in Hawaii 2025 #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
    What is University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa known for?

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
    Compare school
  2. #2

    University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

    Hilo , HI
    #2 Best Research Universities in Hawaii 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Hawaii 2025 #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
    What is University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo known for?

    University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
    Compare school
  3. #3

    University of Hawaiʻi Maui College

    Kahului , HI
    #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #7 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Hawaii
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    27%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College

    Cost of Degree: $3,284
    Starting Salary: $34,200
    What is University of Hawaiʻi Maui College known for?

    University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
  4. #4

    University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu

    Kapolei , HI
    #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Hawaii
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1110/19

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu

    Cost of Degree: $7,584
    Starting Salary: $41,100
    What is University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu known for?

    University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
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Hawaii’s Best Public College in 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

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

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