University of Hawaii at Manoa Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

Total Cost of Attendance

Not only is the University of Hawaii at Manoa located on the beautiful island of Oahu, but it also is a well-respected research institution, particularly in oceanography, astronomy, evolutionary biology, Pacific Islands and Asian studies, and more. The cost of attending can be slightly above the U.S. norm. In 2023-24, University of Hawaii tuition was $12,186 for in-state students and $34,218 for out-of-state students. Compare these numbers to the national average for public four-year schools of $11,260 for in-state students and $29,150 for out-of-state students.

Costs for 2023-24

Financial Aid

Recently, 79% of students received financial aid to help with University of Hawaii at Manoa tuition in the form of student loans, scholarships, and grants.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Many UH Manoa students take out either federal student loans or private loans to help with Hawaii University tuition; 31% take out federal loans and 4% take out private loans. The average amount for a private student loan is $13,456.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

To attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa for four years, the price, including tuition and fees, room and board, and books would be (based on 2023-24 rates) $129,324 for in-state students and $217,452 for out-of-state students. According to CollegeData.com, the average cost of attendance at a four-year public university is $116,600 for four years for out-of-state students and $166,160 for private universities.

Here’s some Hawaii Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

University of Hawaii tuition and fees in Manoa were $27,122 for students from Hawaii, including room and board, and $49,154 for those from other states.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

Hawaiian students attending UH Manoa graduate school paid, on average, $17,852 for their studies in 2023-24, while those from other states paid $35,900. The national average for graduate school is $21,730 per year for tuition and fees. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

If you prefer to attend UH Manoa part-time, the fee per credit for in-state undergraduate students is $471, and for out-of-state students the fee is $1,389.

This student loan and scholarship information can help you explore options to pay for college.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2023-24

*Availability not guaranteed; Out-of-state students may need to access off-campus housing instead. Current cost estimates are $17,357 for off-campus housing with other expenses at $4,975

Students who live on campus can choose from ten residence halls (some of which offer living and learning communities) and two apartment complexes.

Students who live off campus can live in one of the university’s apartment buildings or any number of housing options near campus.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Acceptance Rate

Fall 2023

The University of Hawaii acceptance rate is high, at 70%.

Admission Requirements

Here’s what you need to include with your application to the University of Hawaii at Manoa:

Required:

•  High school transcript

Recommended:

•  Letter of recommendation

•  Personal statement and list of achievements form

•  SAT or ACT scores

You can apply to the University of Hawaii at Manoa here .

SAT and ACT Scores

Applicants are not required to submit test scores, though they may choose to do so. As a result, the school no longer provides data on test score percentiles.

Popular Majors at the University of Hawaii at Manoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers over 200 majors in 18 colleges and schools. Here are the most popular ones

1. Business, Management, and Marketing

In this program at UH Manoa, students learn about business management techniques, product development and improvement, logistics, and pricing strategy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 654

2. Engineering

Whether mechanical, chemical, or another branch of engineering, this STEM major has proved popular at University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 257

3. Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biology students study biochemistry, molecular biology, morphology, biodiversity, and more. Some students focus more on industry applications of this knowledge base.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 247

4. Social Sciences

Students in this program study such topics as anthropology, political science, sociology, and geography.

5. Psychology

The most popular major at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is psychology. Students learn about the science of mind and behavior, as well as cognition, neuroscience, and social psychology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 201

6. Health Professions and Related Programs

These programs include such options as speech pathology, social work, and pre-vet studies for those interested in pursuing health care and healing programs.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 187

7. Foreign Languages, Literature, and Linguistics

In this program, students study such languages, literature, and linguistics as Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Filipino, Russian, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 128

8. Communications

In this program, communications students dive into cinema and multimedia communications, communication in communities, and information and communication technologies.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 125

9. Computer and Information Sciences Education

In the education program at UH Manoa, students learn about product development and improvement, logistics, brand communications, and pricing strategy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 109

10. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

UH Manoa students in this program study kinesiology, physical education, and sports to prepare for related careers.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023: 101

Use this resource to find out more about the majors at the University of Hawaii.

Graduation Rate

Here is the graduation rate for students who started their studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2017:

•  6 years: 63%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After graduating from UH at Manoa, students earn, on average, $58,000 per year. This is somewhat lower than the U.S. average for graduates of $68,516.