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The Best Public Colleges in Hawaii

Here are the top public colleges that in Hawaii. The school list below shows tuition after financial aid, and with the benefit of in-state tuition. Smaller schools are excluded from our list.

  1. University of Hawaii at Hilo

    University of Hawaii at Hilo is a four-year, full-time, inclusive, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Hilo, HI. It has an enrollment of 2,630 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 92.17%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $13,259. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

    The average SAT score was 1040.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 19.0 for the incoming class to 2023.

    Recent Graduate Salaries

    (Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)

    • Agriculture, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,711
    • Natural Resources Conservation and Research. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $21,964
    • Natural Resources Conservation and Research. (Master’s Degree) – $42,682
    • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $28,019
    • Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,126
    • Computer Science. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $57,318
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) – $25,967
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Master’s Degree) – $50,856
    • Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,060
    • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $24,035
    • Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,739
    • Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $24,532
    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. (Master’s Degree) – $38,289
    • Criminal Justice and Corrections. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
    • Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
    • Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $16,478
    • Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,580
    • Music. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $20,140
    • Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. (First Professional Degree) – $115,250
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $72,357
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,133
    • Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,314

    University of Hawaii at Hilo School Spirit

    The school spirit at the University of Hawaii at Hilo is considered to be very high. The university offers a wide range of organizations, clubs, and sports teams for students to get involved with, and the students are known for their passionate involvement in campus activities. The university also has a strong tradition of Hawaiian culture and a commitment to sustainability, which is reflected in the campus community’s sense of pride and dedication. Overall, the University of Hawaii at Hilo is a great choice for students who are looking for a vibrant and engaged campus community.

    Learn more about University of Hawaii at Hilo

  2. University of Hawaii at Manoa

    University of Hawaii at Manoa is a four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Honolulu, HI. It has an enrollment of 13,839 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 69.98%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $13,430. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

    The average SAT score was 1175.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 24.0 for the incoming class to 2023.

    Recent Graduate Salaries

    (Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)

    • Animal Sciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $28,598
    • Natural Resources Management and Policy. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,038
    • Natural Resources Management and Policy. (Master’s Degree) – $57,318
    • Architecture. (Doctoral Degree) – $49,709
    • City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
    • Environmental Design. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $49,019
    • Area Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,281
    • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,409
    • Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,092
    • Journalism. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,141
    • Graphic Communications. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $23,262
    • Computer and Information Sciences, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $52,607
    • Computer Science. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $48,823
    • Curriculum and Instruction. (Master’s Degree) – $54,644
    • Educational Administration and Supervision. (Master’s Degree) – $48,432
    • Educational/Instructional Media Design. (Master’s Degree) – $61,728
    • Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. (Master’s Degree) – $58,673
    • Special Education and Teaching. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,673
    • Special Education and Teaching. (Post-baccalaureate Certificate) – $49,855
    • Special Education and Teaching. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,062
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Post-baccalaureate Certificate) – $51,652
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Master’s Degree) – $48,703
    • Civil Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $63,600
    • Civil Engineering. (Master’s Degree) – $67,101
    • Computer Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $74,576
    • Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $60,771
    • Mechanical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $65,557
    • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,462
    • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,625
    • Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,846
    • Apparel and Textiles. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,519
    • Law. (First Professional Degree) – $62,012
    • English Language and Literature, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $24,201
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $24,615
    • Library Science and Administration. (Master’s Degree) – $39,729
    • Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $23,456
    • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $28,236
    • Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $28,598
    • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,322
    • Mathematics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,133
    • Nutrition Sciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,925
    • Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,547
    • Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Master’s Degree) – $47,260
    • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,384
    • Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,419
    • Public Administration. (Master’s Degree) – $55,338
    • Social Work. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,228
    • Social Work. (Master’s Degree) – $47,729
    • Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $22,771
    • Economics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,153
    • Geography and Cartography. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
    • Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,423
    • Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,181
    • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,353
    • Fine and Studio Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,442
    • Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $65,486
    • Medicine. (First Professional Degree) – $58,856
    • Public Health. (Master’s Degree) – $46,478
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $70,710
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Master’s Degree) – $100,404
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Doctoral Degree) – $94,408
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,458
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Master’s Degree) – $78,719
    • Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,508
    • Accounting and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $57,318
    • Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,847
    • Finance and Financial Management Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,269
    • Hospitality Administration/Management. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,433
    • Human Resources Management and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,542
    • Human Resources Management and Services. (Master’s Degree) – $53,358
    • International Business. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,526
    • Management Information Systems and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $51,106
    • Marketing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,937
    • History. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,569

    University of Hawaii at Manoa School Spirit

    The school spirit at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is vibrant and enthusiastic. Students take pride in their school and often show their support at sports events, cultural events, and academic ceremonies. The university offers a range of opportunities for students to get involved in school activities and clubs, which further fosters a strong sense of community. The “Warrior” nickname and mascot are also a big part of the school’s identity and culture. So, if you are looking for a university with a strong school spirit, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is a great choice.

    Learn more about University of Hawaii at Manoa

  3. University of Hawaii-West Oahu

    University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a four-year, medium full-time, inclusive, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Kapolei, HI. It has an enrollment of 2,651 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 94.62%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $12,423. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.

    The average SAT score was 1028.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 19.0 for the incoming class to 2023.

    Recent Graduate Salaries

    (Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)

    • Education, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $45,636
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,459
    • Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $48,667
    • Homeland Security. (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) – $38,289
    • Public Administration. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,995
    • Social Sciences, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,409
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,980

    University of Hawaii-West Oahu School Spirit

    University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a relatively new institution, established in 1976. While school spirit may not be as strong as some other universities, it still exists among the student community. The university has a small campus, which creates a close-knit community where students can get involved in various clubs and organizations. The school also hosts events such as welcome-back picnics, spirit weeks, and homecoming events to encourage school spirit and pride. In addition, sports teams, including soccer, basketball, and volleyball, participate in intercollegiate competitions, giving students a chance to support their peers and show their school spirit.

    Learn more about University of Hawaii-West Oahu