Universities in Honolulu, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Honolulu
  • 06 Mar, 2024: Latest Scimago Institutions Rankings from Scimago Institutions. University of Hawaii at Manoa in position #451.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: New edition of URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance. University of Hawaii at Manoa in position #618.
  • 05 Dec, 2023: QS World University Rankings: Sustainability updated with University of Hawaii at Manoa in position 445.
  • 27 Oct, 2023: ShanghaiRanking Consultancy published most recent results of GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking (Textile Science and Engineering). Includes 14 universities from Honolulu.

Honolulu, the southeastern capital of Hawaii, is the island’s main hub of economic activity with a significant portion of Hawaii’s workforce making the commute here every day.

While it’s not a cheap area to live in, it’s known for its ‘aloha’ spirit, and for being a place that puts a lot of value on the ideas of family and friendship.

Between this factor and the innumerable beaches on offer, those who move here are sure to learn to appreciate a slower and more relaxed pace of life than on the mainland.


Rankings of universities in Honolulu, USA 2024

  • #59 
  • #201 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #245 
  • #244 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #67 
  • #386 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 25 more rankings of University of Hawaii at Manoa and subject specific rankings for 10 subjects

#2
USA

Hawaii Pacific University

Student satisfaction: 5.0 / 5.0 (based on 144 student ratings)
Card image

  • #503 
  • #519 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #449 
  • #468 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #806 
  • #5607 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#3
USA

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Student satisfaction: 4.2 / 5.0 (based on 53 student ratings)
  • #620 
  • #645 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #613 
  • #636 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1052 
  • #6922 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

Highest subject rankings of universities in Honolulu

Linguistics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#19 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Geology QS World University Rankings By Subject
#44 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Anthropology QS World University Rankings By Subject
#51 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Education US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#67 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Law US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#91 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Public Administration GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#101 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Engineering US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#152 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Agriculture URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#153 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#225 
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Nursing & Health Care Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#249 
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Student Opinions About Studying in Honolulu

“I love that so many people want to come here to experience Hawaii and everything it has to offer, such as beaches, mountains, and a unique culture. It has to be said though that it’s a place that depends very heavily on tourism, and tourists quickly fill up the beaches and contribute significantly to our chaotic traffic situation.”

“We’ve all seen how Hawaii is portrayed in the movies, with their ‘aloha’ spirit. The reality is that there’s a lot of truth to that, and the majority of people here are exceedingly friendly and welcome. That said, you should definitely show respect for their culture, or else some people can take issue with that.”

“The cost of living here is the biggest challenge, but if you can get yourself a job then the quality of life you can have here is amazing. The people are unbelievably kind, and the norm is to live a relaxed and stress-free life.”

Honolulu Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • Hawaii is well known for being a cultural melting pot, and there’s a pervasive social attitude of accepting people wherever they’re from, which is great news for international students.

  • Honolulu is the best part of Hawaii when it comes to finding employment, since it is the closest thing to a metropolis on the island. That said, most of these employment opportunities are limited to work in shops, restaurants, and hotels, often with lower wages than you would receive in the mainland for similar work.

  • If you’re a fan of going to the beach and eating great food, you’re in luck because this is a place that takes pride in both of these things. There are more than 100 beaches in Hawaii, with the very popular Waikiki beach being located in Honolulu. Due to being a cocktail of different cultures, the food here takes a little inspiration from cuisine from all over the world. Many residents recommend trying the Hawaii Plate Lunches.

CONS

  • One of Honolulu’s biggest challenges is its high cost of living, whether it be rent, food, gasoline, or almost anything, here in Honolulu everything has a big price tag. To make the matter worse, the average salary in Honolulu (and Hawaii generally) is lower than the national average.

  • One of the biggest disadvantages of living here according to long-term residents is that it’s very isolated from the rest of the United States, and it can be very difficult to get off the island for economic reasons.

  • Honolulu has issues with severe traffic, in part because many Hawaian residents commute to Honolulu for work since this is the region of Hawaii with the most developed infrastructure and job opportunities.


3 out of 3 Universities in Honolulu Ranked in at least one ranking

24 Different Rankings list Universities in Honolulu (17 institution and 7 subject rankings)

4 Global Rankings rank Universities in Honolulu Among TOP 200

Population: 372000

Elevation: 5 m. above sea level

Time: GMT -10

District/province: Hawaii, Honolulu County

Living costs for students in Honolulu:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 113* (13% more expensive than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 101* (1% more expensive than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 115* (15% more expensive than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in Honolulu

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FAQ

University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks #1 in Honolulu in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Honolulu University of Hawaii at Manoa is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 32 rankings where University of Hawaii at Manoa is listed.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Natural Sciences (Geology). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Social Studies & Humanities (Anthropology). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Business (Public Administration). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked best in Honolulu for Medicine & Health (Nursing & Health Care). See all rankings for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Ranking publishers

British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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MONEY

Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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