Best Colleges in Hawaii of 2023

Since 1907, the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees to students of all ages. It currently offers hundreds of programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Some of their strongest include tropical agriculture, oceanography, tropical medicine, and electrical engineering. It is one of a few colleges in the country to be a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution and is ranked among the top 60 public institutions for research expenditures by the National Science Foundation. The university fields NCAA Division I athletics teams for both men and women, including basketball, football, sailing, and water polo. UH Manoa is located just outside of downtown Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, with many of the students residing in the city. It has a total student population of more than 19,000, representing all 50 states and 128 countries.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii is part of the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offers an education that includes spiritual enrichment along with preparation for a career and intellectual stimulation. Its 3,200 students hail from nearly 60 countries and attend small classes led by faculty who are preeminent in their fields. The 100-acre campus is located 35 miles north of Honolulu and includes housing for both single and married students. BYU–Hawaii is closely linked with the Polynesian Cultural Center, which employs many BYU–Hawaii students. A hallmark of BYU–Hawaii is its low tuition rates - the lowest of any institution on our list. Strong programs at BYU–Hawaii include social work, Pacific Island studies, and information technology. All students also take 14 credits of religious education, which is required for graduation, although membership in the Church is not a requirement for attendance.

University of Hawaii at Hilo is one of the 10 campuses in the University of Hawaii system and was founded in 1947. It offers more than 30 undergraduate degrees and several graduate-level programs to 3,000+ students. Programs that are particularly strong include health sciences, marine science, volcanology, astronomy, and Hawaiian studies. A well-regarded master's program in Hawaiian language and literature was the first in the United States that focused on an indigenous language. UH Hilo has two doctoral programs: a doctorate in pharmacy and a doctorate in nursing practice with a focus on rural nursing. The average class size is 19, and there is a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. The student body is diverse, with the majority of students being of Indigenous Hawaiian background. UH Hilo is in NCAA Division II, and fields teams in baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, and more.

Located in St. Louis Heights in Honolulu, Chaminade University of Honolulu offers bachelor's and master's degree programs to students of all faiths. Run by the Catholic Marianist order, the university has a focus on service learning, so students are required to perform hands-on service learning projects while in attendance. Some of its strongest programs are biology, criminal justice, education, and nursing. The school has accelerated evening and online programs at a number of local satellite locations. The median class size is 16, with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. In addition to the 60+ undergraduate majors and minors, there are six master's programs and five doctoral programs, including programs in education and health care. Certificate programs include certified nurse aide, environmental studies, and a Montessori certificate. The school has an unusual four-year guarantee: if you are a full-time student, you will graduate within four years or the university will provide your additional coursework for free.

One of the newer institutions in the University of Hawaii system, University of Hawaii at West Oahu was founded in 1976 and became a four-year university in 2007. It's a fast-growing undergraduate college with a diverse student body that is drawn to its unique offerings, which include cybersecurity, sustainable community food systems, and hospitality and tourism. About 29% of the institution's students attend remotely, and 38% follow a hybrid model with some classes online and others in person. There are nine undergraduate degree programs in total, with more than 40 concentrations and certificates in areas such as risk management and insurance, substance abuse, and gender studies. UHWO has an intramural sports program that includes teams for flag football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and softball. There is no on-campus housing, so many students live in nearby Leeward cities and towns.

Hawaii Pacific University's urban campus is spread across several locations throughout downtown Honolulu and beyond. These include an oceanic institute in Waimanalo and a presence at Oahu's military installations, including Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Hickam Air Force Base. HPU includes programs within five colleges: business, liberal arts, health and society, natural and computational sciences, and professional studies. There are undergraduate and graduate programs in each college, including diplomacy and military studies, cybersecurity, and environmental science. Doctoral programs include clinical psychology, nursing practice, and physical therapy, and there is a range of online programs at both graduate and undergraduate levels. In 2018, HPU was noted as the most diverse four-year nonprofit institution in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education. It was named one of the most veteran-friendly schools in the United States in 2021 by the U.S. Veterans Magazine.

The University of Hawaii Maui College is a public institution on the island of Maui and a branch of the University of Hawaii system. It was founded in 1931 as a vocational school, and for many years was a well-regarded community college. Although it now has three baccalaureate degree programs, it still offers an extensive range of two-year programs, including agriculture and natural resources, business administration, and culinary arts. Certificate programs are available in topics such as marine options, visual arts, and creative media. Besides the main campus in Kahului, the college runs education centers in Lahaina, Hana, Molokai, and Lanai. The college is one of the smaller UH campuses, with roughly 3,000+ students who live in the surrounding towns while they attend classes. Many courses are available online or in a hybrid format, and the college also has a robust range of noncredit continuing education courses for adult learners.

Founded as a nondenominational Bible institute, Pacific Rim Christian University serves the Christian population of Hawaii and other Pacific Rim countries, equipping lay leaders, ministers, and other faith-based professionals. It is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The university has associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in Christian leadership, chaplaincy, pastoral ministry, and other topics related to the Christian faith. Several programs, including the associate in Christian ministry leadership and bachelor's in Christian ministry, are available online. Limited student housing that includes furnished, shared bedrooms is available for students. There is no married student housing. PacRim is the smallest institution on our list, educating roughly 100 students at a time. It is located in downtown Honolulu and has an acceptance rate of 60%.