Top 10 Public Universities in Hawaii in 2027

1. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Manoa ranks first because it is Hawaii's only Carnegie R1 research university, enrolling roughly 18,000 students with the state's broadest degree menu spanning bachelor's through doctoral programs. In-state tuition runs near $12,000 per year, and its Institute for Astronomy and School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology anchor internationally recognized work in oceanography, astronomy, and Pacific studies. Its reported six-year graduation rate sits near 60%.

This suits students who need research depth, doctoral pathways, or specialized science programs unavailable elsewhere in the state. It trades away the small-class intimacy and low sticker price of Hilo and West Oahu, and Honolulu's cost of living runs well above neighbor-island campuses. Compared with Hilo directly below, Manoa offers far more breadth but roughly $4,300 more in annual in-state tuition.

2. University of Hawaii at Hilo

Hilo ranks second as the best value four-year campus in the state, enrolling about 3,000 students with in-state tuition near $7,700 per year, among the lowest four-year rates in the country. It offers strong marine science, astronomy, and nursing programs, and its College of Pharmacy is the only one in the Pacific region. Small classes give students direct faculty access.

This fits students who want a small science-focused campus at minimal cost, especially those targeting health fields or field-based research near Mauna Kea and Big Island marine sites. It trades away Manoa's degree breadth and research scale, and the Big Island location limits internship variety. Against West Oahu below, Hilo offers stronger science programs but fewer business and transfer-oriented majors.

3. University of Hawaii – West Oahu

West Oahu ranks third for affordable bachelor's access on Oahu, enrolling roughly 3,000 students in Kapolei with in-state tuition near $7,700 per year. It is built around transfer students and working adults, with applied majors in business administration, education, public administration, and a growing cybersecurity and creative media program. Small classes and close UH community college ties support completion.

This suits working students and transfers who want a low-cost bachelor's without leaving Oahu, particularly those coming from Leeward or Honolulu Community College. It trades away the research depth and degree variety of Manoa and Hilo, and the newer campus has fewer traditional amenities. Against Hilo above, West Oahu is more career-focused but weaker in science and health fields.

4. Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College ranks fourth among Hawaii's public institutions for workforce return on investment, enrolling about 3,500 students with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It is a leading two-year campus for automotive and diesel technology, construction trades, and its FAA-certified aeronautics maintenance program, a regional draw. Many graduates transfer to UH four-year campuses or enter the workforce directly.

This fits students seeking trades credentials, aviation maintenance training, or a low-cost transfer start in central Honolulu. It trades away bachelor's degrees entirely, and transfer requires moving to another campus. Against Kapiolani below, Honolulu CC is stronger in trades and aeronautics but weaker in nursing, allied health, and culinary programs.

5. Kapiolani Community College

Kapiolani ranks fifth as Hawaii's largest community college, enrolling roughly 5,500 students near Diamond Head with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It is known for nursing, allied health, and culinary arts programs, and serves as a leading feeder into UH four-year health degrees. Strong student-support services boost completion and transfer rates.

This suits students targeting health careers or culinary training who want a low-cost start before transferring to a UH bachelor's program. It trades away direct bachelor's degrees, and nursing and health tracks carry competitive admission. Against Leeward below, Kapiolani offers stronger health and culinary programs but serves a more Honolulu-centric student base.

6. Leeward Community College

Leeward ranks sixth as one of the state's most accessible transfer engines, enrolling about 6,000 students in Pearl City with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It offers strong liberal arts, digital media, teaching, and business programs, and its close partnership with UH West Oahu creates a smooth, low-cost route to a bachelor's degree. The Waianae education center extends access to west-side communities.

This fits west Oahu students who want an affordable transfer path into a UH four-year campus, especially those heading toward West Oahu. It trades away bachelor's degrees and residential life, operating as a commuter campus. Against Maui College below, Leeward has stronger transfer volume but lacks Maui's select applied bachelor's degrees.

7. University of Hawaii Maui College

Maui College ranks seventh because it uniquely combines associate degrees with select applied bachelor's degrees, enrolling roughly 3,000 students in Kahului at in-state tuition near $3,300 per year. It is the primary public higher-education provider for Maui County, including outreach to Molokai and Lanai, with strengths in sustainable science, culinary arts, engineering technology, and applied business.

This suits Maui residents who want to earn a credential without leaving the island, particularly in applied business or engineering technology. It trades away the research base and internship variety of Oahu campuses, and its four-year degree menu is limited. Against Windward below, Maui offers applied bachelor's degrees but smaller overall enrollment and program breadth.

8. Windward Community College

Windward ranks eighth for its focused transfer and applied-science offerings, enrolling about 2,500 students in Kaneohe with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It is known for liberal arts transfer, Hawaiian studies, and veterinary technology, plus astronomy and agripharmatech programs uncommon at small two-year campuses. Small classes make it a welcoming, affordable starting point.

This fits windward Oahu students who want a supportive transfer start, especially in Hawaiian studies or veterinary technology. It trades away program breadth due to small enrollment and offers no bachelor's degrees. Against Kauai Community College below, Windward has larger enrollment and stronger Hawaiian studies, but Kauai serves a distinct neighbor-island population.

9. Kauai Community College

Kauai Community College ranks ninth as the only public college on the Garden Isle, enrolling roughly 1,400 students in Lihue with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It offers programs in nursing, hospitality, automotive technology, and liberal arts transfer, with sustainable-living and culinary offerings tied to Kauai's economy. Tight community ties support strong local completion rates.

This fits Kauai residents who need local career training or a low-cost transfer launchpad without leaving the island. It trades away course variety due to small enrollment, and transferring to a four-year campus requires leaving Kauai. Against Hawaii Community College below, Kauai is smaller but serves an isolated island population with no alternative public option.

10. Hawaii Community College

Hawaii Community College ranks tenth, enrolling about 2,500 students across Hilo and Kona with in-state tuition near $3,200 per year. It serves the Big Island with programs in trades, agriculture, nursing, and a distinctive Hawaiian lifestyles and language emphasis, plus forestry and culinary offerings reflecting the local economy. Close ties to UH Hilo create a smooth transfer pipeline.

This fits Big Island students seeking trades, agriculture, or culturally grounded programs with a direct transfer route to UH Hilo. It trades away bachelor's degrees and faces the challenge of serving a large, spread-out island. Against Kauai Community College above, Hawaii CC has larger enrollment and a stronger transfer pipeline, but its service area spans a much bigger geographic footprint.

How we ranked these

This ranking weighted academic quality and program depth at 25%, graduation and post-graduation outcomes at 20%, value and affordability at 20%, faculty and resources at 15%, student support and environment at 10%, and research and specialization at 10%. Figures came from publicly reported data in IPEDS/NCES, U.S. News, Niche, and the University of Hawaii System, covering tuition, enrollment, graduation rates, and degree offerings across the ten campuses.

We deliberately ignored campus prestige marketing, social-media buzz, and single-number national rankings that flatten Hawaii's unusual structure: one R1 flagship, two regional four-year campuses, and a network of two-year colleges. We also excluded mainland cost comparisons and anecdotal reviews, because in-state tuition, island geography, and transfer pathways matter far more to Hawaii families than generic reputation scores.

What to look for

What actually matters here is credential fit and total cost, not the ranking number. Manoa offers the only R1 research depth and doctoral menu; Hilo and West Oahu deliver four-year degrees near $7,700 in-state; community colleges run near $3,200 and feed structured transfer agreements into those campuses. Factor island geography too, since Honolulu housing can erase tuition savings that neighbor-island campuses preserve.

The mistake most buyers make is choosing on prestige alone and paying for Manoa when a Kapiolani-to-West-Oahu or Leeward-to-Manoa transfer path would produce the same degree for far less. The second common error is ignoring program concentration: marine science, astronomy, nursing, and Hawaiian studies live at specific campuses, so a cheaper school without your major is no bargain.

Related questions

What is the best public university in Hawaii?

The University of Hawaii at Manoa is the best overall, as the state's flagship and only Carnegie R1 very-high-research university. It offers world-class oceanography, astronomy, and Pacific and Asian studies, plus the broadest bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree menu in Hawaii, enrolling roughly 18,000 students in Honolulu.

What is the best value public university in Hawaii?

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is the best value, with in-state tuition near $7,700 per year, among the lowest four-year tuition in the country. It delivers strong marine science, astronomy, nursing, and Hawaiian studies programs, plus the only pharmacy school in the Pacific region, in small classes with direct faculty access.

How much does in-state tuition cost at Hawaii public universities?

In-state tuition runs roughly $12,000 per year at UH Manoa, about $7,700 at UH Hilo and UH West Oahu, and near $3,200 at community colleges like Kapiolani, Leeward, Honolulu, Windward, Kauai, and Hawaii CC. All remain well below most mainland public options for Hawaii residents.

Which Hawaii public university is best for marine science?

UH Manoa leads through its School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, with internationally recognized oceanography and marine biology programs. UH Hilo is a strong, lower-cost alternative, using Big Island marine field sites near Mauna Kea and surrounding coastal environments for hands-on undergraduate research.

Can I transfer from a Hawaii community college to a four-year UH campus?

Yes. Kapiolani, Leeward, Honolulu, Windward, Kauai, and Hawaii Community Colleges maintain structured transfer agreements into Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu. Starting at roughly $3,200 per year and transferring sharply lowers total degree cost, and Leeward's close partnership with UH West Oahu makes that route especially smooth.

Which Hawaii public university is best for working adults?

UH West Oahu is built for transfers and working students, with applied majors in business administration, education, public administration, cybersecurity, and creative media. UH Maui College also offers select applied bachelor's degrees in engineering technology and applied business for neighbor-island residents who cannot relocate to Oahu.

Is the University of Hawaii at Manoa an R1 research university?

Yes. Manoa is the only public university in Hawaii holding Carnegie R1 very-high-research status. Its Institute for Astronomy and School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology anchor research in astronomy, volcanology, tropical agriculture, and Pacific studies, giving undergraduates access to doctoral-level facilities and federally funded projects.

Which Hawaii public college is best for nursing and health programs?

Kapiolani Community College is the strongest two-year health option, with respected nursing, allied health, and culinary programs and robust student support. UH Hilo also offers four-year nursing and the Pacific region's only pharmacy school, while Kauai and Hawaii Community Colleges provide local nursing training on their islands.

FAQ

What is the best public university in Hawaii?

The University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu is the best overall. It is the state's flagship and only R1 very-high-research university, with world-class oceanography, astronomy, and Pacific and Asian studies, plus the broadest degree menu in Hawaii, enrolling roughly 18,000 students and reporting a six-year graduation rate near 60%.

What is the best value public university in Hawaii?

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is our best value pick. It offers strong marine science, astronomy, nursing, and Hawaiian studies, plus the Pacific's only pharmacy school, at in-state tuition near $7,700 per year, among the lowest four-year tuition in the country, with small classes and direct faculty access.

How much is in-state tuition at University of Hawaii?

In-state tuition runs roughly $12,000 per year at Manoa and around $7,700 per year at Hilo and West Oahu. Community-college tuition sits near $3,200 per year across Kapiolani, Leeward, Honolulu, Windward, Kauai, and Hawaii Community Colleges, all well below most mainland public options for residents.

Which Hawaii public university is best for marine science?

UH Manoa leads through its School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, with deep oceanography and marine biology programs. UH Hilo is a strong, lower-cost alternative thanks to its Big Island marine field sites, and its proximity to Mauna Kea observatories also supports astronomy research for undergraduates.

Can I transfer from a Hawaii community college to a four-year UH campus?

Yes. Campuses like Kapiolani, Leeward, and Honolulu Community Colleges have structured transfer agreements that route students into Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu. Starting at a two-year campus near $3,200 per year and then transferring sharply lowers total degree cost without sacrificing the final credential.

Which Hawaii public university is best for working adults?

UH West Oahu is built for transfers and working students, with applied majors in business, education, public administration, and cybersecurity. UH Maui College offers select applied bachelor's degrees in engineering technology and applied business for neighbor-island residents, while Kauai and Hawaii Community Colleges provide local career training.

Is the University of Hawaii at Manoa a research university?

Yes. Manoa is the only public university in Hawaii with Carnegie R1 very-high-research status. Its Institute for Astronomy and School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology support research in astronomy, volcanology, tropical agriculture, and Pacific studies, giving students access to major federally funded facilities and doctoral programs.

Which Hawaii public college is best for nursing?

Kapiolani Community College is the strongest two-year nursing and allied health option, feeding directly into UH four-year health programs. UH Hilo offers four-year nursing plus the region's only pharmacy school, while Kauai and Hawaii Community Colleges provide local nursing training for their islands.

Which Hawaii public college is best on Maui?

UH Maui College in Kahului is the primary public provider for Maui County, including outreach to Molokai and Lanai. It uniquely offers both associate degrees and select applied bachelor's degrees in engineering technology and applied business, with local strengths in sustainable science and culinary arts, at tuition near $3,300 per year.

Do Hawaii community colleges offer bachelor's degrees?

Mostly no. Honolulu, Kapiolani, Leeward, Windward, Kauai, and Hawaii Community Colleges award associate degrees and certificates only. UH Maui College is the exception, offering a handful of applied bachelor's degrees. Transferring to Manoa, Hilo, or West Oahu completes a traditional four-year degree.

Sources

• https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/hawaii
• https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/s/hawaii/
• https://www.hawaii.edu/
• https://manoa.hawaii.edu/
• https://hilo.hawaii.edu/
• https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/
• https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
• https://www.hawaii.edu/cc/
• https://maui.hawaii.edu/
• https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

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