6 Best Colleges in Hawaii
What’s Covered:
Who isn’t just a little bit intrigued by the prospect of attending college in Hawaii? Tropical weather, beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes—yes, there could be worse places to study. Check out this list of the best colleges in Hawaii!
Our Ranking Methodology
How did we determine this list of the best colleges in Hawaii? We focused on school quality, outcomes, and return on investment (ROI). We examined data such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others. Students can also check out CollegeVine’s ranking of 1518 schools across the country.
6 Best Colleges in Hawaii
1. Brigham Young University–Hawaii
Location: Laie, HI
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Middle 50% SAT: 1080-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 21-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 3,100
Operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and started in the mid 1950s, BYU-Hawaii includes not only intellectual learning and career preparation, but also moral, ethical, and spiritual enrichment. Predominantly Mormon students come from more than 70 countries to an intercultural learning environment in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Students select academic programs from the Faculty of Arts & Letters, Business & Government, Culture, Language & Performing Arts, Education & Social Work, Math & Computing, Religious Education, and Sciences. All students must also enroll in Religious Education courses, with 8-14 required for graduation.
Learn more about BYU-Hawaii and what it takes to get accepted.
2. University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Location: Honolulu, HI
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Middle 50% SAT: 1060-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 20-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 12,900
UH Mānoa was founded in 1907 on 320 acres and is one of five universities with a land, sea, space, and sun grant designation. The university is known for its pioneering research in fields such as oceanography, astronomy, Pacific Islands and Asian area studies, linguistics, cancer research, and genetics. The Mānoa Advising Center offers an Exploratory Program to assist students who are unsure about which academic path to pursue.
Learn more about UH Mānoa and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Pacific Rim Christian University
Location: Honolulu, HI
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Middle 50% SAT: 1070-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 21-26
Undergrad Enrollment: <200
A Protestant University, PacRim “inspires, equips, and empowers students to intentionally explore their God-given purpose to become effective leaders in the ministry and marketplace.” The school offers two-year undergraduate programs in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry and four-year programs in Theology, Theological Studies, Bible & Creative Arts, Bible & Christian Ministry, Bible & Pastoral Ministry, Bible and Christian Counseling.
Learn more about PacRim and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Chaminade University of Honolulu
Location: Honolulu, HI
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Middle 50% SAT: 960-1130
Middle 50% ACT: 19-23
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,600
The only Catholic University in Hawaii, and one of three Marianist higher education institutions in the U.S., Chaminade is committed to developing the mind, body, and spirit of each student, stressing social justice and service to others. The school specializes in biology, business, criminal justice, education, forensic sciences, interior design, nursing, and religious studies.
Learn more about Chaminade and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Hawaii Pacific University
Location: Honolulu, HI
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Middle 50% SAT: 970-1170
Middle 50% ACT: 17-24
Undergrad Enrollment: 3,500
With campuses in downtown Honolulu, Winward (eight miles from downtown), Makapu’u (site of the Oceanic Institute) and on local military installations, this liberal arts university offers more than 30 baccalaureate degrees, both BS and BA as well as BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and BSW (Bachelor of Social Work). The school prides itself on offering a highly personalized, student-centered approach driven by the values of “pono” (righteousness), “kuleana” (concern for all), and “aloha” (love).
Learn more about Hawaii Pacific and what it takes to get accepted.
6. University of Hawaii at Hilo
Location: Hilo, HI
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Middle 50% SAT: 990-1170
Middle 50% ACT: 16-22
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,800
UH Hilo is a diverse public liberal arts and science university with a primary focus on undergraduates. It offers BA, BS, BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degrees. With 10 of the 14 world climate zones on the island of Hawaii, the school is a living laboratory for the study of volcanoes, astronomy, agriculture, marine science, and other natural sciences.
Learn more about UH Hilo and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
CollegeVine can help you understand your chance of admission at each of the schools listed above, others in Hawaii, and colleges across the other 49 states. Our free chancing engine uses quantitative data such as grades and standardized test scores along with qualitative factors including extracurricular activities, awards, and achievements to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools in Hawaii and the US.
Remember to build a balanced school list including safety, target, and reach schools to put yourself in the best position to find the perfect school for you. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
