University of Hawaii at Manoa: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Honolulu, Hawaii · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public university in Honolulu, Hawaii that admits about 70% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $13,181 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Marketing and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 64% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Hawaii at Manoa admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 70%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1157 and an ACT composite around 24. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,181 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Hawaii at Manoa is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Hawaii at Manoa?
University of Hawaii at Manoa admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Hawaii at Manoa weight in admissions?
University of Hawaii at Manoa reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • State residency
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Geographical residence
- • Interview
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Hawaii at Manoa typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 480–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 605. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1157 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | 24 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 29.1% |
| Top 25% of class | 51.5% |
| Top 50% of class | 84.6% |
| % submitting class rank | 49% |
How much does University of Hawaii at Manoa actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,186 for in-state students and $34,218 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,936 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,181 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 25% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $11,520 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $33,552 |
| Room and board | $15,216 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,181 |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Hawaii at Manoa
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Hawaii at Manoa?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Hawaii at Manoa
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Hawaii at Manoa, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Marketing and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Hawaii at Manoa confers roughly 1,089 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $47,038 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 216 | $47,038 |
| Marketing | 139 | $52,161 |
| Biology, General | 131 | $54,633 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 126 | $46,146 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 124 | $68,014 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 121 | $48,696 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 120 | $112,211 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 112 | $57,532 |
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Hawaii at Manoa disclosed 53 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
Other colleges in Hawaii parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Hawaii at Manoa
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Hawaii at Manoa recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Hawaii at Manoa
What GPA do I need for University of Hawaii at Manoa?
University of Hawaii at Manoa admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Hawaii at Manoa typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 480–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 605. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27.
How much does University of Hawaii at Manoa actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Hawaii at Manoa after grants and scholarships is $13,181 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Hawaii at Manoa is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
University of Hawaii at Manoa accepts about 70% of applicants out of roughly 16,722 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa test-optional?
Yes. University of Hawaii at Manoa is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
About 64% of students at University of Hawaii at Manoa graduate within six years. 81% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Hawaii at Manoa look for in applicants?
University of Hawaii at Manoa rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
What are the most popular majors at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Hawaii at Manoa by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Marketing and Biology, General. The school awards about 1,089 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Hawaii at Manoa safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Hawaii at Manoa reported 53 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Hawaii at Manoa, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.