If you are not able to experience this paradise destination, you can definitely take advantage of their colleges online.
For the island state of Hawai’i, colleges offer online degrees for both out-of-state students and those residing on the neighboring islands. Hawai’i is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Learning. This is a tuition reciprocity program where students pay a reduced tuition rate. If you’re an out-of-state learner, this means you can receive schooling in Hawai’i for a fraction of the cost!
Distance learning opportunities on the rise, including in Hawaii. Online colleges eliminate barriers students face when thinking about going to college. Through distance education, you’ll find the flexibility and support you need to achieve your academic goals. So many students are achieving their goals by getting a online degree, it may be worth considering!
We know that figuring out which colleges have the best online programs can be confusing! This list is meant as a starting point in your decision-making process.
What are the best online colleges in Hawai’i?
Our rankings rest on a multitude of variables. Quantitative data we look at include areas like retention rate of students, graduation rates, and tuition costs. More subjective data like student feedback and reviews are important in the process, too. Colleges’ institutional excellence and the return on investment combined with everything above and more result in the list below. We find our data on U.S News & World Report, IPEDS, Payscale, and college websites.
2018 Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
1
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Overview
The University of Hawaii’s Mānoa location is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaii system. The system has 10 campuses around Hawaii. The research university was established in 1907 as a land-grant institution. It is located on the island of Oahu, just outside of Honolulu. Today, the public university extends their educational instruction through online courses. In total, more than 20,000 students are enrolled. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Features
Depending on the course, UH-Mānoa offers both asynchronous and synchronous courses. UH-Mānoa confers a total of 19 online programs. These are mostly master’s programs, with doctoral and bachelor’s options as well. Some highlights are:
- Advanced Population Health Nursing (M.S.)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.)
- Learning Design and Technology (M.Ed.)
- Rehabilitation Counseling (M.S.)
- Nursing (Ph.D.)
Notables
The University of Hawaii ranks #61 on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Online Graduate Programs.” The institution provides a very interactive course curriculum with audio, video, computer technologies. In addition, distance education students can utilize the university’s online tutoring program.
2
Hawaii Pacific University
Overview
Hawaii Pacific University is a private, research institution. It is based in liberal arts and emphasizes on being student-focused. The university is located on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, along with secondary locations of Hawaii Loa campus, the Oceanic Institute, and various military programs. It is the largest private university in Hawaii with an enrollment of about 7,000 students.
Program Features
HPU confers 14 online degrees. These are divided into undergraduate and graduate degrees and are available in online and hybrid formats. Also, Hawaii Pacific University also offers online, noncredit career advancement courses. The following are some online degree options:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Master of Business Administration
- Nursing RN-to-BSN
- Computer Science (B.S.)
Notables
Webinars are a tool the university uses frequently. For example, Hawaii Pacific University has a webinar session about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The school also provides online tutoring for registered students, provided by “Smarthinking.” Reference librarians are also available 24/7 via chat.
3
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Overview
The Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private, liberal arts, Catholic institution that has been around since 1955. The university’s campus is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, where it has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. Chaminade University was established in 1955 by 5 Marianists and is named in honor of the Society of Mary founder. It has been offering online bachelor’s degree programs since 2010. Online programs are offered through the office of Professional and Continuing Education.
Program Features
Chaminade University uses rolling admission to accept students. The university confers 4 associate’s degrees, 11 bachelor’s, and 6 master’s. It operates on a semester schedule with accelerated various ten-week courses. Chaminade University has notably small class sizes which allow for individualized attention. Popular majors include:
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Education
- Criminal Justice (B.S.)
- Early Childhood Education (B.S.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
Notables
The school honors its Marianist, Roman Catholic traditions. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges with program-specific accreditations as well. Total enrollment sums up to 2,530 students.
4
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Overview
The University of Hawaii at Hilo is a public, liberal arts university. It is located in Hilo, Hawaii on the “Big Island.” The university was founded in 1947 and currently has a total of 4,139 students. It is one of the ten universities in the University of Hawaii system. The research-focused institution is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Features
The University of Hawaii at Hilo offers 5 total programs fully online. Two of these are offered through video conferencing, the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program and Master of Arts in Indigenous Language and Culture Education. These are both certified by the State Approved Teacher Education Program. Other programs are the following:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Masters of Education
- Nursing RN-to-BSN
Notables
Online degrees cost the same tuition as face-to-face programs. The school uses rolling admissions.
5
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Overview
The University of Hawaii-West Oahu is the only public university in West Oahu. It is a four-year university established in 1976 that follows a liberal arts tradition. It is part of the 10-branch University of Hawaii system. Diverse and indigenous serving, the school offers several online programs. However, it is important to note that these are offered exclusively for transfer students with credits from community college in the UH system. These programs only fulfill upper-division coursework.
Program Features
The university offers a multitude of certificates and bachelor’s programs. Within these programs, several concentrations are available. These degrees are available in hybrid and fully online formats.
- Business Administration BA
- Public Administration BA
- Social Sciences BA
Notables
Most online courses use the program Laulima, UH’s online platform. The University of Hawaii offers help to students about becoming familiar with the program. It also utilizes Blackboard Collaborate, an interactive platform for students and faculty. The university has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1981.
6
Argosy University-Hawaii
Overview
Argosy University has campuses in 13 U.S states, as well as an online platform, Guam, and American Samoa. In total, the system has 16 total campus locations. The university was established in 2001. The Hawaii main campus is located in downtown Honolulu.
Program Features
Argosy University offers over 25 degree programs. These degrees can be taken in either blended or fully online format. Popular degrees include:
- Counseling psychology (Ed.D)
- information Technology (A.S.)
- Criminal Justice (B.S.)
- Business administration (M.B.A.)
- Organizational Leadership (M.S.)
Notables
A diploma from Argosy University-Hawaii will not specify that it was earned online. The university is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Scholarships are available for online students. Students can contact school advisors to determine whether their credits can transfer.