Hawaii's colleges may offer a unique experience, whether you're looking for a quiet place to study or a lively campus life. With so many different options to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Some of the colleges in Hawaii's include the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, and Chaminade University of Honolulu. These schools offer a variety of programs and degrees, so you can find the right one for your future goals.
If you're looking for a smaller school experience, Hawaii also has many community colleges that offer two-year programs. These may be a option if you're not sure what you want to study.
Most of the colleges in Hawaii are in the north west area, close to Honolulu. Like most other states, schools range from four year colleges to vocational schools. Let’s look at some NCES stats about the Aloha State:
Hawaii is home to 11 four year colleges. The majority of them, 8, offer masters or doctorate programs in addition to undergraduate degrees.
There are 12 two year or less colleges. Half of them are public community colleges.
Over the past 5 years Hawaii colleges have seen one of the largest drops in students at 18.3%. In 2017, 64,125 students were enrolled in college.
In total, there were 13,534 degrees awarded for the 2016 school year. Half of those awards were bachelor degrees.
Salary Breakdown
College Scorecard tells us alums from the Hawaii Pacific University earn among the highest average salary. 10 years after starting school, the average alum earns $49,900. Meanwhile, the 2018 mean annual wage earned in Hawaii is $52,900. You do the math!
Hawaii's Tuition Programs
Like other states, Hawaii offers easy transfers within it's state system. Students who complete a degree at a public 2 year college can transfer to UH Manoa, UH Hilo, or UH West Oahu. Upon transferring, students will earn a junior standing at the public four year college.
Hawaii is also a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). This program allows students to pursue degrees in one of 15 Western states at an in state tuition rate. According to WICHE, Hawaii students have saved over $271 million out of state tuition since 1988. In 2018 that number was $24.9 million! Participating states include Utah and Nevada.
What is the Largest College in Hawaii?
According to NCES, The largest college in Hawaii is University of Hawaii at Manoa, with an enrollment of 18,025 students. The 2021 / 2022 in state tuition is $12,186. Add in on campus room and board and total expenses will run you about $29,920. Live out of state? Expect to pay $34,218 in tuition and fees. The acceptance rate for University of Hawaii at Manoa in fall of 2020 was 84%.
The next two largest colleges would be Kapiolani Community College located in Honolulu, and Leeward Community College in Pearl City.
Kapiolani Community College according to NCES services 6,369 students, and the tuition will cost less. The 2021 / 2022 in state tuition is $3,284, and out of state will run you $8,420. They do not offer on campus housing so you would be looking at spending $16,103 on living expenses.
Lastly, according to NCES, Leeward Community College has a student body of 6,363. The 2021 / 2022 in state tuition is $3,209, and the out of state tuition is $8,345. Living costs would be similar to KCC.
As community colleges in Hawaii, Kapiolani and Leeward both have open admissions policies.
The University of Hawaii, Oahu
Hawaii Scholarships
If you're looking for scholarships to attend a Hawaii college, there are many resources available. The University of Hawaii System offers a variety of scholarships, and the Hawaii Community Foundation also has scholarships available.
Source for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
