HONOLULU (KHON2) — As college early decision application deadlines approach on Nov. 1 and as yearly tuition rates range from $24,920 to $58,600 per year, new studies have released 2026’s Best Colleges and Universities reports.
The rankings compare nearly 800 schools across the country using 30 measures in seven categories, such as Cost and Financing, Career Outcomes and Student Selectivity.
Four schools in Hawaiʻi appear in the rankings:
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
- University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
- Hawaiʻi Pacific University.
- University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu.
Each is listed in a different way. Some show up nationally and others only in the West region. Here’s what we found amongst the rankings.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
UH Mānoa is the only Hawaiʻi school that appears in the main national university list. It is ranked #380 overall, and it had a total score of 56.35 and a 52nd percentile standing.
The school’s weakest areas are Campus Experience at #562 and Faculty Resources at #502.
In the West regional list of universities, UH Mānoa ranked #48 which places it in the 53rd percentile.
The report also listed Mānoa at the top amongst Hawaiʻi schools for:
- Admission Rate: 1st.
- Net cost: 2nd.
- Student-faculty ratio: 2nd.
- On-campus crime: 2nd.
- Gender and racial diversity: 1st.
- Graduation rate: 1st.
- Post-attendance median salary: 2nd.
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
UH Hilo is not in the national university list, but it is ranked #94 in the West region, landing in the 9th percentile.
Snapshot data show UH Hilo ranked within the Hawaii system shows:
- Admission rate: 3rd.
- Net cost: 1st.
- Student-faculty ratio: 1st.
- On-campus crime: 3rd.
- Gender and racial diversity: 4th.
- Graduation rate: 3rd.
- Post-attendance median salary: 4th.
Hawaiʻi Pacific University
Hawaiʻi Pacific University is ranked #97 in the West region, which places it in the 6th percentile amongst regional universities and colleges. HPU was also not on the national list.
The report lists HPU’s standing amongst Hawaii’s higher education system:
- Admission rate: 2nd.
- Net cost: 3rd
- Student-faculty ratio: 3rd.
- On-campus crime: 4th.
- Gender and racial diversity: 2nd.
- Graduation rate: 4th.
- Post-attendance median salary: 1st.
University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu
UH West Oʻahu appears in the report’s Best Colleges list. This ranking focuses on smaller and liberal arts institutions.
Nationally, it ranked No. 70 overall, which placed it in the 3rd percentile with a total score of 44.63.
It stands out for the following Hawaii rankings:
- Admission rate: 4th.
- Net cost: 4th.
- Student-faculty ratio: 4th.
- On-campus crime: 1st.
- Gender and racial diversity: 3rd.
- Graduation rate: 2nd.
- Post-attendance median salary: 3rd.
UH West Oʻahu also appears in the West regional version of the Best Colleges ranking, where it is #9 in the region. That placed UH West in the 1st percentile.
You can click here, here, here and here to access the new 2026 rankings.
The report lists highlight UH Mānoa as the strongest of Hawaiʻi’s schools nationally. UH West Oʻahu gains attention for affordability and safety, while UH Hilo and HPU appear only regionally and rank low overall.
For families weighing choices, the rankings provide a snapshot of how each institution measures up in cost, outcomes and student experience.