Rankings / By State
Best Colleges in Hawaii
- 12
- Schools
- $46,578
- Avg. Earnings
- 40%
- Avg. Graduation
- $13,009
- Avg. Net Price
- $13,911
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $34,453 at the low end to $59,593 at the top. That 1.7× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Kapiolani Community College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $44,599 against $5,202 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Leeward Community College, at $5,137 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates 63% of its students, well above the 40% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Honolulu Community College: graduates owe only 0.17× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Chaminade University of Honolulu ($52,343 earnings), not the highest earner, Hawaii Pacific University ($59,593). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Leeward Community College ($5,137/yr) and Hawaii Pacific University ($29,657/yr) produce graduates earning $39,899 and $59,593 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $24,520 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Kapiolani Community College outperforms Hawaii Pacific University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Kapiolani Community College and University of Hawaii at Manoa. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $48K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-06-15
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Chaminade University of Honolulu #1 overall | $52,343 ▲ +12% vs avg | $28,856 | 57% | 65 |
| 2 Hawaii Pacific University #2 overall | $59,593 ▲ +28% vs avg | $29,657 | 38% | 64 |
| 3 University of Hawaii at Manoa #3 overall | $57,624 ▲ +24% vs avg | $15,664 | 63% | 62 |
| $52,064 ▲ +12% vs avg | $16,774 | 54% | 61 | |
| $52,075 ▲ +12% vs avg | $10,327 | 48% | 61 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Colleges in Hawaii
This analysis ranks 12 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $46,578 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 40% and an average net price of $13,009.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Kapiolani Community College — Net Price: $5,202 | Graduation Rate: 21%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Hawaii at Manoa — 63% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Hawaii Pacific University — Median alumni earnings: $59,593
Our Analysis Found
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Hawaii Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Hawaii?
$46,481
Median earnings (10yr)
36%
Median graduation rate
$9,635
Median net price
3.2%
Avg. mobility rate
Students tend to study where they live and work where they study, which makes a state's colleges its most important economic development asset. This ranking evaluates how well institutions across Hawaii serve that role: producing graduates with strong earnings, keeping talent in the regional economy, and offering affordable paths for local students.
Start with the medians across these 12 schools. Graduates earn a median of $46,481 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 36%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $9,635 a year with about $11,770 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 25% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 3.2%.
For Hawaii, the institutions that combine manageable costs with strong graduate outcomes are the ones building the local workforce. With a median net price of $9,635 and graduates earning a median of $46,481, these schools sit where the talent pipeline and economic development meet.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Chaminade University of Honolulu lands at #1 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $52,343 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,856 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Hawaii Pacific University lands at #2 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $59,593 a decade after enrolling, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,657 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Hawaii at Manoa lands at #3 with a 62/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $57,624 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,664 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Brigham Young University-Hawaii lands at #4 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $52,064 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,774 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of Hawaii-West Oahu lands at #5 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by social mobility (55/100). Graduates earn a median $52,075 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,327 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Hawaii at Hilo lands at #6 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $47,856 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,856 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Kapiolani Community College lands at #7 with a 57/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (50/100). Graduates earn a median $44,599 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,202 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Honolulu Community College lands at #8 with a 56/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (49/100). Graduates earn a median $45,105 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,458 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Leeward Community College lands at #9 with a 56/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (45/100). Graduates earn a median $39,899 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,137 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Windward Community College lands at #10 with a 55/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (51/100). Graduates earn a median $38,439 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,169 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Hawaii Community College lands at #11 with a 52/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $34,891 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,942 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Hawaii Maui College lands at #12 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $34,453 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,061 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 12 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Hawaii is home to a diverse range of colleges and universities, each offering unique opportunities for students. With 12 institutions in our focus, prospective students might be weighing their options in a state known for its natural beauty and rich culture.
The schools listed here are evaluated based on key metrics that matter most for student success, like earnings after graduation, graduation rates, student debt, and mobility. The data reveals how these institutions prepare students for life after college, helping families make informed decisions about their futures.
For example, the University of Hawaii at Manoa stands out with an average earning potential of $57,624 and a graduation rate of 63%, compared to Kapiolani Community College, where graduates earn an average of $44,599 with only a 21% graduation rate. Such contrasts highlight the importance of not just selecting a school, but understanding the outcomes tied to each choice.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When we look closer at the data, it’s clear that the University of Hawaii at Manoa outperforms Kapiolani Community College significantly. With an average earning of $57,624 compared to Kapiolani's $44,599, the difference in financial outcomes is striking. Additionally, Manoa's 63% graduation rate is far better than Kapiolani's 21%, underscoring the importance of choosing a school with a strong track record of helping students graduate.
After reviewing the options, it’s essential for students and families to weigh these statistics against their personal priorities. Factors like campus location, available programs, and overall financial situation should play a critical role in decision-making. For instance, a lower net price at Kapiolani Community College might appeal to some, despite its lower graduation and earning figures. Aligning financial outcomes with personal goals can help clarify which school is the right fit.
Ultimately, these data points reflect more than just numbers; they represent future opportunities for students. Choosing a college is a pivotal decision that can influence one’s career path and financial stability. Families should consider how each institution can set their student on a path toward success, ensuring they make a choice that aligns with both aspirations and realities.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Colleges in Hawaii: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Colleges in Hawaii ranking? +
Chaminade University of Honolulu in Honolulu, HI ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Colleges in Hawaii ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $52,343 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 57% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Hawaii Pacific University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $59,593 ten years after enrollment, well above the $46,578 average across the 12 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Kapiolani Community College leads: graduates earn a median $44,599 against net price of about $5,202 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Hawaii at Manoa has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 63%, compared with a 40% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $13,009 a year across the 12 ranked schools with cost data. Leeward Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,137. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Colleges in Hawaii ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 12 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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