University of Hawaii
Honolulu, HI
83%
Acceptance Rate
$12,186
Avg Cost (In-State)
$35,862
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
62%
Graduation Rate
18,865
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 3
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$70
Interview
Not required
Essays: Personal statement required, 500-650 words
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$39,316
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$52,064
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
54%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Hawaii Opportunity Scholarship
Up to $4,000/year
stateHI residents at UH 4-year campuses with financial need; merit + need combined.
Deadline: Through UH financial aid
Learn more ↗University of Hawaii Manoa Regents Scholarship
Tuition + fees + stipend + summer experience
universityTop UH Manoa incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Hawaii Promise Scholarship
Last-dollar at UH Community Colleges
stateHI residents at any UH Community College with financial need; covers gap between Pell + other aid and full cost.
Deadline: FAFSA + UH application
Learn more ↗Polynesian Cultural Center Education Trust
Tuition at BYU-Hawaii
minorityPacific Islander students attending BYU-Hawaii while working at PCC.
Deadline: Through BYU-H
Learn more ↗Hawaii Student Incentive Grant
$500-$3,200
stateHawaii residents at UH or HI private institutions with academic merit + need.
Deadline: Through institution
Learn more ↗Hawaii Chafee Education and Training Voucher
Up to $5,000/year
stateHI current/former foster youth ages 14-23; HI DHS Imua Kakou program.
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more ↗Polynesian Cultural Center Scholarship (BYU-Hawaii)
Work-study + tuition support
minorityStudents of Pacific Islander heritage working at PCC while attending BYU-Hawaii; iconic Polynesian student work-study pipeline.
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more ↗Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Higher Education Scholarship
Up to $4,000/year
minorityHawaiʻi residents of Native Hawaiian ancestry pursuing undergrad/grad study in Hawai'i or US mainland.
Deadline: February
Learn more ↗Hawaii Society of CPAs Scholarship
$1,000-$3,000
stateHawaii residents pursuing accounting at HI colleges.
Deadline: April
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
25.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
28.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
75.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
18.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
41.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
79.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
60.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
83% acceptance
Both admit around 83% of applicants, with 19k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA
83% acceptance
Both admit around 83% of applicants, with 15k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA
83% acceptance
Both admit around 83% of applicants, with 11k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
78.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (79% vs 83%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $36k.
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
91.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 83%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $36k.
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
90.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 83%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $36k.
Reaches above this college
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
11.6% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (12% vs 83%) — a stretch target if University of Hawaii is already on your list.
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
11% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (11% vs 83%) — a stretch target if University of Hawaii is already on your list.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
9.8% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but more selective (10% vs 83%) — a stretch target if University of Hawaii is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
93.9% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but higher admit rate (94% vs 83%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
94% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but higher admit rate (94% vs 83%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM
95.2% acceptance
Same u setting in the West, but higher admit rate (95% vs 83%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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