Washington Place · Photo: CaesarGJ · Public domain
Colleges in and near Urban Honolulu
Urban Honolulu is home to seven colleges, with about 28,000 students on campus
The University of Hawaii at Manoa (17,664 students on campus) and Hawaii Pacific University (3,928) are inside the town. About 8% of Urban Honolulu’s residents are enrolled in college, above Hawaii (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Urban Honolulu. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
10
33,115 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Hawaii Pacific University
Residents in college
8%
Above HI (6%)
Nearest community college
1.5 mi
Honolulu · $3,174 tuition
Nearest public university
2.6 mi
University of Hawaii at Manoa · $12,186 in-state
Median household income
$87K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Urban Honolulu
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $75–110k, where Urban Honolulu’s median household income ($86,504) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Urban Honolulu: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
University of Hawaii at Manoa64% graduate$58k earnings$18k typical debt
Hawaii Pacific University35% graduate$60k earnings$22k typical debt
Kapiolani Community College22% graduate$45k earnings$9k typical debt
Leeward Community College35% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
Honolulu Community College25% graduate$45k earnings$8k typical debt
Chaminade University of Honolulu55% graduate$52k earnings$23k typical debt
Windward Community College31% graduate$38k earnings$10k typical debt
University of Hawaii-West Oahu50% graduate$52k earnings$14k typical debt
Pacific Rim Christian University45% graduate$41k earnings
Hawaii Medical College84% graduate$39k earnings$13k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Majors
What students study in Urban Honolulu
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Urban Honolulu’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 201 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Construction Trades, GeneralHonolulu Community College · 154 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 144 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHawaii Pacific University · 122 graduates a year
$113k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 119 graduates a year
$120k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 115 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 112 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa · 110 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Kapiolani Community College, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in Urban Honolulu
Is Urban Honolulu a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Urban Honolulu residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Hawaii (6). The largest campus in the town, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has 17,664 students on campus.
What colleges are in Urban Honolulu?
The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu Community College and 3 more are inside the town.
What is the closest community college to Urban Honolulu, and what does it cost?
Honolulu Community College in Honolulu, 1.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,174 a year for Hawaii residents; the federal net price, $7,458, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Hawaii at Manoa cost if we live in Hawaii?
Tuition and fees are $12,186 a year in-state and $34,218 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,675 (under $30,000 income) to $22,562 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Urban Honolulu. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Washington Place · Photo: CaesarGJ · Public domain