Hawaii has a small but unusually layered college landscape. Our database lists 35 college entries across Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai, ranging from University of Hawaii campuses to private universities, trade schools and flight-training programs. Most people searching here want one of three things: an affordable two-year degree, a route to a bachelor's degree, or a short career credential. The state sorts these into clear tiers. Knowing which tier a school belongs to tells you who regulates it, how it is funded and whether its credits will transfer. This page explains that structure and points you to the county pages for specific addresses and phone numbers.

How Higher Education Is Organised in Hawaii

Hawaii runs public higher education differently from most mainland states. One body, the University of Hawaii System, operates every public college and university in the state. Its Board of Regents is established under the Hawaii State Constitution, which gives the university a degree of independence from the legislature. Counties do not run colleges, and there are no local community college districts with elected boards. Tuition, programs and admissions policy are set at the system level, even though every county hosts campuses.

Public schools for children are also statewide. Hawaii has a single K-12 Department of Education, which is a separate agency from the university. That split matters for high school students. Programs such as Running Start let eligible juniors and seniors take UH courses for college credit. You arrange this through your school counselor and the college's admissions office, not through a county office.

Private institutions sit outside the UH structure. Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University of Honolulu and Brigham Young University-Hawaii set their own tuition and admission rules. Smaller trade and career schools fall under state authorization, which we cover further down.

The University of Hawaii Campuses: Three Universities and Seven Community Colleges

The system has ten campuses. UH Manoa is the flagship research university in Honolulu. UH Hilo and UH West Oahu are the other two four-year campuses. The seven community colleges are Honolulu, Kapiolani, Leeward, Windward, Hawaii, Kauai and UH Maui College. They accept most applicants who hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and they offer certificates, associate degrees and transfer pathways. Here is where the campuses in our listings sit:

Each community college has a character tied to its location. Kapiolani is widely known for culinary and health programs. Honolulu Community College is known for trades and marine training. Windward serves the Kaneohe side of Oahu with a strong Hawaiian studies emphasis. Check each college's current program list rather than assuming, because offerings change.

Transfer is the practical advantage of a single system. A student who finishes an associate degree at a UH community college can move to Manoa, Hilo or West Oahu through a structured process inside one institution family. UH West Oahu, at 1001 Farrington Highway in Kapolei, serves the growing Ewa and Leeward region, so students there can complete a bachelor's degree without driving into town.

Tuition is lower for Hawaii residents than for nonresidents. Residency generally depends on living in the state for roughly twelve months and intending to stay, with some exceptions. Each campus has staff who decide residency, so confirm your status before you pay. Hawaii Promise, a state-supported program, is designed to cover remaining tuition and fees at the community colleges for eligible residents after other aid is applied. Ask the financial aid office for the current rules.

Private Colleges and Career Schools: Who Authorizes Them in Hawaii

Private nonprofit universities offer a different experience. Hawaii Pacific University occupies downtown Honolulu at 1 Aloha Tower Drive, close to the harbor and the business district. Chaminade University of Honolulu, at 3140 Waialae Avenue, grew out of the Marianist Catholic tradition and has a relatively small campus. Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Laie, on Oahu's North Shore, is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and draws many students from the Pacific and Asia.

Career and vocational schools make up a large share of our listings. Honolulu has several: Hawaii Institute of Hair Design on Nuuanu Avenue, Paul Mitchell The School-Honolulu on 11th Avenue, Hawaii Medical College and Med-Assist School of Hawaii for health careers, World Medicine Institute, and Travel Institute of the Pacific on South King Street. Hilo has Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine on Kinoole Street. Mauna Loa Helicopters also appears in this category, so ask directly what instruction or certification it offers.

The state body to know is the Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. It authorizes private postsecondary schools to operate in Hawaii under state law. Before enrolling, ask whether the school holds current authorization and whether an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education accredits it. Accreditation affects federal aid and whether another college will accept your credits.

Licensed trades add another layer. Cosmetology and barbering are licensed through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and graduates must pass a state exam. Ask any school what share of its graduates pass and what the path to a license looks like.

Records can also lag reality. Heald College closed its Honolulu campus along with its other campuses in 2015, and other private schools have closed or merged since. Treat any listing as a starting point and phone ahead.

Oahu, the Neighbor Islands and Rural Hawaii: Where Access Differs

Geography shapes college access more than any rule does. Honolulu County holds the great majority of our listings, and most of those are in urban Honolulu. If you live on Oahu, you can compare a community college, a private university and a trade school within a short drive or bus ride. Traffic on the H-1 corridor can add real time to a commute, so check class times against your route before you register.

On the Big Island, Hilo is the academic center. UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College sit side by side on West Kawili Street, which makes it easy to start at one and move to the other. Residents on the west side of the island live far from Hilo, so Hawaii Community College also operates a Palamanui campus there. Public transit is limited, so most students drive.

Maui County covers three inhabited islands. UH Maui College in Kahului is the main campus, with education centers serving Molokai, Lanai and Hana. Kauai has one public community college, Kauai Community College near Lihue, so students who want a bachelor's degree often use UH distance programs or relocate to Oahu or Hilo. Interisland flights add cost, so ask about online options and housing early.

Practical Steps Before You Visit a Hawaii Campus

A few habits save time. Call the admissions office first; nearly every number in our listings uses the 808 area code, while University of Phoenix-Hawaii on Fort Street lists a toll-free 866 number. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time, so adjust when calling from the mainland. Bring a photo ID, transcripts from earlier schools and your financial aid information. Ask for the academic calendar, since UH campuses run fall and spring semesters.

Public colleges and universities in Hawaii offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Hawaii state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 9 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Honolulu, Hilo, Kapolei, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Hawaii should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Hawaii applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Hawaii institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Choosing Between Honolulu County, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai

Our Hawaii listings follow county lines, which is the fastest way to narrow a search. Honolulu County is the island of Oahu. It holds most of the state's campuses, including Chaminade University of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College and Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Laie. Hawaii County centers on Hilo, where Hawaii Community College and UH Hilo share West Kawili Street, and it also lists Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine.

Maui County and Kauai County each have one listing in the database: UH Maui College in Kahului and Kauai Community College near Lihue. Because those islands have a single public college each, program choice is narrower, and online or interisland options matter more.

A simple plan works well. Pick the county where you can realistically attend, shortlist two or three schools, then phone each one. Ask about the next start date, the application deadline, total cost and whether credits transfer. Write down the answers so you can compare schools side by side before you apply.

Finally, visit if you can. Campus tours, advising appointments and information sessions are the best way to judge commute, class size and support services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Hawaii

All public colleges in Hawaii belong to the University of Hawaii System, which has ten campuses: UH Manoa, UH Hilo, UH West Oahu and seven community colleges. If you want lower tuition, flexible entry or a certificate, start at a community college such as Honolulu, Kapiolani, Leeward, Windward, Hawaii, Kauai or UH Maui College. If you already know you want a bachelor's degree, apply to one of the three universities directly. Many students do both, finishing an associate degree first and then transferring within the system. Ask each campus's counseling office for the transfer agreements that apply to your major.

Resident tuition is set by the University of Hawaii's residency rules, not by individual counties. In general you must have lived in Hawaii for about twelve months before the term starts and intend to make the state your home. Evidence typically includes a Hawaii driver's license or state ID, state tax filings, voter registration and a lease or deed. Some groups, such as certain military families, may qualify under special provisions. Each campus has an office that makes the call, so submit your documents early and ask for the decision in writing. Private colleges like Hawaii Pacific University use their own pricing and do not follow UH residency categories.

Private postsecondary schools generally need authorization from the Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program, which operates within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Examples in our listings include Hawaii Institute of Hair Design, Paul Mitchell The School-Honolulu, Med-Assist School of Hawaii and Hawaii Medical College. Authorization is different from accreditation, so ask for both. If the career requires a state license, such as cosmetology, find out which exam you must pass and whether the school's hours qualify you to sit for it. Get the enrollment agreement and refund policy in writing before you pay anything.

Hawaii Community College is based in Hilo, but it also runs a Palamanui campus on the west side of the island for residents around Kona. In the smaller islands of Maui County, UH Maui College operates education centers serving Molokai and Lanai, as well as Hana on Maui. These sites offer a limited set of courses, and many classes are delivered online or through interactive video. Call the main campus numbers in our listings, such as Hawaii Community College at 808-934-2500 or UH Maui College at 808-984-3500, and ask which programs you can complete entirely at the center nearest you.

Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which Hawaii colleges use to award federal grants, work-study and loans. The Hawaii Promise program is designed to help eligible residents cover remaining community college tuition after other aid, and each UH campus lists its own scholarships. The Hawaii Community Foundation administers many privately funded scholarships for island students. Private universities such as Chaminade University of Honolulu and Hawaii Pacific University run their own institutional aid, so request an aid estimate from each school. Deadlines vary, so contact financial aid offices well before the semester begins.

The UH community colleges are accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, while Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade and BYU-Hawaii are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. You can verify any school through the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation database. Closures do happen: Heald College's Honolulu campus closed in 2015, for example. Phone the number in the listing, confirm the street address, and ask whether the program you want is currently enrolling. Specialized programs, such as acupuncture and Oriental medicine, may also carry their own programmatic accreditation worth checking.