Best Colleges in Hawaii

Based in Laie, this BYU extension school — run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — offers members of the church and any interested students the opportunity to attend school at its Hawaii campus. For its 3,200 students enrolled annually, BYU-Hawaii offers a challenging curriculum of 40 majors, 60 minors, and 12 certificate programs. Forty-two clubs and organizations on campus give students the chance to meet friends and pursue their academic and personal interests. Students must follow the honor code of the church, and church members pay discounted tuition rates. The competitive undergraduate admissions process at BYU-Hawaii requires a completed application, high school transcripts, and ACT or SAT test scores. Most incoming students possess a GPA above 3.5. BYU-Hawaii is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Founded in 1976, UH West O'ahu operates as one of 10 University of Hawai'i campuses. The school offers numerous four-year degree programs and provides a comprehensive education, emphasizing baccalaureate degrees based in the liberal arts tradition. Students can also select from career-focused fields, as well as majors that meet with Hawaii's regional needs. The university oversees eight major colleges, focusing on areas like education, the social sciences, and creative media. More than 3,000 undergraduate students enroll each year in the university's degree programs, while also joining campus clubs and making friends. Prospective first-year students must show a 2.7 minimum cumulative GPA and pay a nonrefundable application fee. UH West O'ahu welcomes transfer students and military students. The school also offers flexible online learning options, as well as certificates.

Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private higher education institution that offers 23 undergraduate degrees and five graduate programs. The university offers fully online associate and bachelor's degrees powered by Canvas. Associate options include early childhood education, liberal arts, and criminology/criminal justice. Students can also pursue an associate of business administration that prepares them for entry-level clerical positions. Bachelor's candidates pick from remote programs like management, secondary education, and religious studies. They can also earn an English degree, developing the literary analysis and communication skills to work as teachers and technical writers. Chaminade also delivers a bachelor of science in psychology track that covers fundamental counseling and research competencies. Incoming freshmen need a minimum 2.5 GPA and a score of at least a 19 on the ACT or 1000 on the SAT. Transfer students should have a GPA of 2.0 or above. Distance learners pay one affordable tuition price, with discounts available for active military personnel and veterans.

Founded in 1941 as a vocational school, the University of Hawaii at Hilo provides comprehensive academics to 3,400 students each year. The institution offers 33 undergraduate degrees and three graduate programs, several of which learners may complete entirely online. The catalog features a bachelor of nursing track for licensed RNs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This BSN program helps students cultivate the skills to deliver culturally congruent nursing care in a rural environment. UH Hilo offers online master's degrees in education, counseling psychology, and indigenous language and culture. The university also hosts the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program. Students complete this three-semester, postbaccalaureate program through video conferencing to obtain their initial teaching certification. Additionally, UH Hilo offers a remote doctor of nursing practice that prepares candidates to work as family nurse practitioners. The university bases its affordable tuition prices on residency status. Out-of-state students can access reduced tuition rates through the Western Undergraduate Exchange initiative. Graduate applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA and adequate GRE/GMAT scores.