Colleges in Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the most stunning states in the country. The state contains breathtaking beaches, majestic volcanoes and beautiful landscapes. The capitol and largest city is Honolulu, and the state is fully surrounded by water. Many people choose to attend college in The Aloha State as it is home to more than 25 colleges in Hawaii.

Attending College in Hawaii

Because many people in Hawaii choose to get a job right out of high school, the college institutes in the state are smaller than other areas of the country. The student-to-faculty ratio is small, so you will receive a quality education. The state is home to two medical institutes that are popular for students who wish to pursue acupuncture and oriental medicine. You can also find numerous scholarships in The Aloha State. The state offers Regents and Presidential Scholarships, or you can apply for the Centennial Scholars Programs.

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Established in 1907, this beautiful campus is located near Honolulu. You can choose from 92 bachelor’s degrees, and the school is home to just over 14,000 undergraduate students. They participate in NCAA Division I athletics, and the university contains more than 20 student organizations. It is one of the leading colleges for federal funding in engineering and science. The school is also has one of the best law schools in the country. In addition, it is considered one of the top schools in Hawaii for minorities. The weather is gorgeous, and students love to participate in snorkeling and surfing. The atmosphere of the college is friendly and welcoming and the professors are top-notch. Some of the best programs include Earth Science, Asian study and marine biology.

Hawaii Pacific University

Situated in Honolulu, this private school in Hawaii is popular for nursing, business, social work, marine science and education. It is home to around 8,000 students, and it is considered one of the more affordable colleges in the nation. The staff at the college is exceptional, and the class sizes are small. It is a relaxing atmosphere.

Kapi’olani Community College

This is one of the most popular Hawaii schools primarily because of its near proximity to the famous Waikiki Beach. While attending this community college, you can obtain hands-on training in technical and occupational programs. Some of the best degrees consist of liberal arts, history, English and political science. The degree that you earn will probably be a two-year degree; however, most colleges will accept the credits.

University of Hawaii, Hilo

You cannot find a more stunning location to attend college than Hilo. An impressive volcano and a lush tropical rainforest are near the university. Astronomy and botany students thrive at the school. The enrollment is about 4,000, and it is considered one of the best liberal art schools in the country. Some of the undergraduate programs at the school consist of economics, biology, marine science and geology.

About Hawaii State Data

Almost 1.5 million people reside in Hawaii, making it the 8th smallest state. It was the last of the 50 states to join the country, and it is comprised entirely of islands. The climate is warm and tropical, and the weather is beautiful throughout the year. The state does not observe daylight savings time. Hawaii is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Hawaii Economy

Tourism is the leading contributor to the economy in Hawaii. Some of the other prominent industries include military, education and sugar plantations. The cost of living is higher in Hawaii than most states. Because of a Gas Cap Law, gas prices in the state are regulated. The unemployment rate in Hawaii sits at around 7%.

Hawaiian Customs

The state possesses many unique customs. When visiting someone, it is polite to take a gift, and you should take off your shoes before entering a house. To celebrate a first birthday, most locals have a luau, and it is standard to present lei to someone who is visiting the islands. Many of the people in Hawaii wear slippers or flip flops, so you will be comfortable when attending one of the colleges in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Cuisine

Hawaii is famous for its scrumptious foods. Some of the most popular cuisine in the state includes coconuts, chicken, sweet potatoes and sugarcane. One of the most popular meats in Hawaii is spam, and sometimes it is referred to as The Hawaiian Steak. Another popular dish is called loco moco. This features rice, macaroni salad, a hamburger patty, a fried egg and gravy. One of the most popular condiment on the island is sea salt.

Things to do in Hawaii

The state contains numerous exciting attractions and places to visit. Some of the most popular attractions in Hawaii include:

Kilauea Volcano: This is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. You can hike through the rainforest, or you can walk through lava tubes.

Visit Waikiki Beach: While visiting this popular beach, you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating or just relaxing in the sun.

Pearl Harbor: This memorial honors those who lost their lives that horrible day in 1941.

Diamond Head State Monument: You can hike through military bunkers, or you can dig for diamonds.

Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge: While at this refuge, you can get a glimpse of seals, dolphins and humpback whales. The views are spectacular.

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo: Situated on the Big Island, this tropical zoo houses tigers, monkeys, geese and more interesting animals.

Waimea Arboretum and Botanic Garden: This beautiful garden, located in Oahu, is home to numerous plants and flowers from Hawaii.

Found 44 Post-Secondary Schools In Hawaii


Title City State Type Enrollment
Aisen Shiatsu School Inc Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
All Hawaiian School of Massage Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Argosy University - Hawaii Campus Honolulu HI 4-year private, for-profit 231
Brigham Young University - Hawaii Laie HI 4-year private, not-for-profit 2353
Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit 2620
Electronics Institute Kailua HI 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Employment Training Center Univ of Hi Comm Colls Honolulu HI Less than 2-year public No Data
Fahrni School of Real Estate Aiea HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Fashion Center Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Hawaii Business College Honolulu HI 2-year private, for-profit 173
Hawaii Community College Hilo HI 2-year public 2090
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit 37
Hawaii Institute of Real Estate Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit 7553
Hawaii Theological Seminary Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit 32
Heald College - Honolulu Honolulu HI 2-year private, not-for-profit 1134
Hollywood Beauty College Aiea HI 2-year private, for-profit 46
Honolulu Community College Honolulu HI 2-year public 4487
Honolulu School of Massage Inc Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Institute of Body Therapeutics Lahaina HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Honolulu HI 4-year private, for-profit 30
Japan - America Institute of Management Science Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Kapiolani Community College Honolulu HI 2-year public 6760
Kauai Community College Lihue HI 2-year public 1052
Leeward Community College Pearl City HI 2-year public 5259
Maui Community College Kahului HI 2-year public 2678
Med - Assist School of Hawaii Inc Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit 136
New York Technical Institute of Hawaii Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit 232
Oriental Medical Institute of Hawaii Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Pacific Western University - Hawaii Honolulu HI 4-year private, for-profit No Data
Remington College - Honolulu Honolulu HI 2-year private, for-profit 409
Travel Institute of the Pacific Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit 179
Travel University International Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit 140
University of Advanced Research - Hawaii Campus Hilo HI 4-year private, for-profit No Data
University of Hawaii - Off of Chanclr for Comm Coll Honolulu HI Central office or Administrative Unit No Data
University of Hawaii - West Oahu Pearl City HI 4-year public 665
University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo HI 4-year public 2874
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu HI 4-year public 17263
University of Hawaii System Office Honolulu HI Central office or Administrative Unit No Data
University of Phoenix - Hawaii Campus Honolulu HI 4-year private, for-profit 1063
University of Phoenix - Maui Campus Wailuku HI 4-year private, for-profit No Data
Vitousek Real Estate School Honolulu HI Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Windward Community College Kaneohe HI 2-year public 1451
World Medicine Institute Honolulu HI 4-year private, not-for-profit 35

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/