The Ultimate Guide to
Studying in Hawaiʻi
10 campuses, world-class research, aloha culture, and real costs — everything before you apply.
Imagine starting your morning with a sunrise over the Pacific, attending a marine biology lab where the ocean is your classroom, and ending your evening watching the Milky Way from the summit of Mauna Kea. For students at the University of Hawaiʻi system, this isn't a fantasy — it's Tuesday.
Spread across 10 campuses on six Hawaiian islands, the UH system serves over 50,000 students each year and offers pathways from short-term certificates to doctoral degrees in law, medicine, and pharmacy.
10
Campuses
6
Islands
50,000+
Students
The UH Four-Year Campuses
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Nestled in lush Mānoa Valley just minutes from Waikiki, UH Mānoa is the Pacific Rim's premier research university. Over 100 nationalities share this vibrant campus.
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
On the rainy Big Island, UH Hilo offers an intimate academic experience. Small classes, brilliant professors, and a campus surrounded by rainforest and active volcanoes.
UH West Oʻahu
Purpose-built for working adults and transfer students in fast-growing Kapolei. Upper-division focused campus with evening and hybrid courses.
7 Community Colleges
Complete your AA degree for as little as $3,300/year, then transfer to a 4-year campus with guaranteed junior standing — saving up to $20,000.
Kapiʻolani CC
Honolulu, Oʻahu
Known for: Culinary Arts, Nursing, Dental Hygiene
Leeward CC
Pearl City, Oʻahu
Known for: Liberal Arts Transfer, Creative Media
Honolulu CC
Honolulu, Oʻahu
Known for: Aviation, Marine Trades, Construction
Windward CC
Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
Known for: Arts, Hawaiian Studies, Natural Sciences
UH Maui College
Kahului, Maui
Known for: Culinary BAS, Sustainable Science, Nursing
Hawaiʻi CC
Hilo, Big Island
Known for: Agriculture, Construction, Nursing, EMS
Kauaʻi CC
Puhi, Kauaʻi
Known for: Hospitality & Tourism, Business, Nursing
The Smart Transfer Strategy
Start at a UH community college (~$3,300/yr) → complete your AA in 2 years → transfer to UH Mānoa or Hilo as a junior. Total 4-year cost: as low as $23,000. That's less than one year at many private universities.
Standout Programs at UH
Programs where UH isn't just good — it's world-leading.
Marine & Ocean Sciences
World-ClassSOEST at UH Mānoa ranks among the world's top oceanography programs. Students work on research vessels, dive coral reefs, and collaborate with NOAA and the Navy.
Available Programs
- BS/MS/PhD in Oceanography (Mānoa)
- BS in Marine Biology (Mānoa)
- BS in Marine Science (Hilo)
- Atmospheric Sciences (Mānoa)
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Top of the WorldMauna Kea hosts the greatest collection of observatories on Earth — Keck, Subaru, Gemini North. UH students gain direct research access.
Available Programs
- BS/MS/PhD in Astronomy (Mānoa)
- BS Physics / Astronomy concentration (Hilo)
- Research access at Mauna Kea (13,796 ft)
Hawaiian & Pacific Studies
Unique on EarthNo university on Earth offers the depth of Hawaiian language and indigenous Pacific studies that UH does. UH Hilo's Hawaiian Language PhD is revitalizing a near-extinct language.
Available Programs
- BA/MA/PhD in Hawaiian Language (Hilo) — world's only
- BA in Hawaiian Studies (Mānoa)
- Pacific Islands Studies (Mānoa)
- All campuses offer Hawaiian language courses
Business — The Shidler Advantage
AACSB-AccreditedUH Mānoa's Shidler College of Business is Hawaii's only AACSB-accredited business school with a Pacific-Asia focus unique in the United States.
Available Programs
- Finance, Marketing, Management, Accounting
- International Business (Asia-Pacific focus)
- Real Estate, Entrepreneurship
Health Sciences
High DemandHawaii faces a persistent healthcare shortage. UH trains the entire pipeline: MDs, PharmDs, RNs, and public health professionals.
Available Programs
- MD — John A. Burns School of Medicine (Mānoa)
- PharmD — UH Hilo (only pharmacy school in Hawaii)
- BSN Nursing — Mānoa, Hilo, Kapiʻolani CC
- MPH Public Health — Mānoa
The Aloha Spirit in Academic Life
Diversity Like Nowhere Else
No single ethnic group forms a majority. Over 100 nationalities at UH Mānoa alone.
Hawaiian Culture is Central
Hula performances, Hawaiian language classes, and oli chants open every major campus event.
Outdoor Culture
Students surf before class, hike weekends, snorkel during study breaks. Bring sunscreen.
Food Culture
Plate lunches, poke bowls, shave ice, spam musubi. Hawaii has one of the world's richest food cultures.
Aloha Spirit
A genuine spirit of love, peace, and mutual respect that permeates campus life in real, tangible ways.
Campus Traditions
Merrie Monarch Festival, Lei Day, Rainbow Warriors games, and multicultural celebrations year-round.
What Does it Really Cost?
Hawaii has a high cost of living, but UH tuition — especially in-state — is genuinely affordable.
UH Mānoa (in-state)
Tuition: $11,970
Total COA
~$30,000
Receive Aid
68%
UH Mānoa (out-of-state)
Tuition: $34,218
Total COA
~$52,000
Receive Aid
68%
UH Hilo (in-state)
Tuition: $8,304
Total COA
~$24,000
Receive Aid
72%
UH West Oʻahu (in-state)
Tuition: $7,896
Total COA
~$20,000
Receive Aid
70%
Community Colleges (in-state)
Tuition: ~$3,300
Total COA
~$17,000
Receive Aid
65%
001610
UH Mānoa FAFSA Code
001611
UH Hilo FAFSA Code
009272
UH West Oʻahu FAFSA Code
Find Your UH Pathway
Not sure which UH campus or program is right for you? Try our AI advisor — built specifically for UH students.