Studying at the University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Executive MBA Online Programs.
Within the University of Hawaii are three campuses, seven community colleges, five research centers, and four educational centers. Some of the well-respected programs are in marine science, engineering, botany, geophysics, business, law, mathematics, and linguistics. The most popular majors for students at the University of Hawaii include those in business, engineering, the social sciences, biology, and various health professions.
More than half of the classes offered by the University of Hawaii feature fewer than 20 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is a low 10:1. The freshman retention rate for the university is 78 percent, which means more than three-quarters of students make the decision to return for their second year of study. Students may attend classes at one of the three main campuses run by the university or enroll in UH Online from anywhere in the world.
Many degrees are offered completely online with no time required in classrooms, but some degrees may require some limited time spent in a classroom. Some of the topics available for study 100 percent online include accounting, health care administration, management essentials, and disaster preparedness & emergency management. Programs vary from undergraduate certificates and undergraduate degrees to graduate degrees and graduate certificates.
Some of the programs that feature a hybrid approach to learning include the master’s degree programs in learning design & technology and the Distance Learning Executive MBA, as well as the RN-BSN program and the undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies. The university also has a selection of five-week programs that are highly accelerated and help students complete their classes in less time than the traditional semester.
For example, students can enroll in the Online Associate of Arts (AA) with a major of liberal arts, which will reward the student with a degree in two-and-a-half years. The university also offers an accelerated Bachelor of Social Work program, where students can enjoy highly flexible classes designed for busy professionals.
When students enroll in one of the university’s online classes, they will work with one of the official campuses located throughout the Hawaiian Islands. For example, the accounting program at the associate’s degree level is offered by Leeward Community College. The undergraduate certificate in risk management & insurance is offered by the West Oahu campus. Students enrolled in the graduate degree in education will work with the Hilo campus.
About the University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii is a public university in Hawaii, with around 50,000 students attending. The university was founded in 1907, and its motto is “Above all nations is humanity.” The university has its main offices located in Honolulu and was originally founded as a result of the Morrill Act of 1862, which mandated the creation of institutions of higher learning across the United States and its territories.
The governing body for the university is the Board of Regents, which is a group of 15 unpaid volunteers. The university also has a student member who currently attends the university and serves in the position for two years as a voting member of the governing board. The university’s official colors are gold and black. The main campuses of the university are located in West Oahu, Hilo, and Manoa.
University of Hawaii Accreditation Details
The regional accreditor for the University of Hawaii is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the university is also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning. In addition to its memberships and regional accreditation, the university offers several programs with programmatic accreditation. Some of the agencies that have approved degrees and programs include the Council on Rehabilitation Education and the Planning Accreditation Board.
Additional accreditations come from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the American Psychological Association. Other approvals have been granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Dental Association, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
University of Hawaii Application Requirements
First-year students who want to attend the University of Hawaii will need to satisfy several high school course requirements to apply successfully. Requirements include four units of English, three units of science, three units of social sciences, and three units of math. Students must also complete a variety of college-prep courses and electives. The minimum GPA for admission is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, and minimum SAT scores are 560 on the reading/writing portion and 540 on the mathematics portion.
Applicants should also be in the top forty percent of their graduating class in high school, as well as achieve a minimum of 22 on the ACT if they choose to submit that test rather than the SAT. The application fee for admission is $70, and students can mail their application materials to the Office of Admissions in Honolulu. Prospective graduate students should inquire about the program they want to enter for specifics on application materials and minimum scores.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition rates for students at the University of Hawaii are based on the campus location a student attends. For example, students who enroll at the Manoa campus will pay $11,304 for tuition if they’re residents of Hawaii or $33,336 if they’re non-residents. Books and supplies are estimated to cost $1,058, meals and housing are estimated at $13,366, and personal expenses are estimated to run between $2,854 and $3,213.
For graduate students enrolled at the University of Hawaii, the rate for eight credits per semester and full-time enrollment is $10,608 for residents and $24,928 for non-residents. Students attending the law school will pay $22,392 if they’re residents or $45,816 if they’re non-residents. The medical program is $36,672 for residents and $71,328 for non-residents.
Students interested in receiving financial assistance during their time at the University of Hawaii will work with Financial Aid Services, which provides degree-seeking students with aid like loans, grants, and scholarships. Students need to submit a FAFSA form to qualify for federally-backed student loans and grants.
During the financial aid application process, some students may need to submit official documents with details on household income. There are several awards students may qualify for when they attend the University of Hawaii that include the Pacific Islander Scholarship, the Manoa Opportunity Grant, and various scholarships for incoming undergraduate students.