Hawaii Acceptance Rate
So, you’re thinking about applying to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and you’re curious about your chances of admission. Well, we’re here to help! Of course, there are a lot of factors in the admissions process, and it’s impossible to accurately predict whether you’ll be admitted or not. However, the most important factors in the admissions game are your GPA and test scores. So, using those as a measure, we can give you an estimate of your chances.
Test Type
With an acceptance rate of 81%, admission to Hawaii is mildly competitive. Based on our analysis, to have a good chance of being admitted, you need to be at the very top of your class and have an SAT score of close to 1200, or an ACT score of around 23.
Not quite there? Try taking our SAT prep course and you’ll still have a chance of getting in, but it’s in the single digits. Let’s take a closer look at Hawaii admission statistics.
Hawaii Admissions Statistics
Hawaii’s acceptance rate in 2017 was 81%. For students applying to the class of 2021, out of 7,690 applicants, Hawaii admitted about 6,261. The average GPA of admitted applicants was 3.5, the average ACT score was 23, and the average SAT score was 1160.
For students who took the ACT, the 25th percentile score of successful applicants was 21, and the 75th percentile score was 26.
For students who took the SAT, the 25th percentile score was 1060. The 75th percentile score was 1260.
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If you’re somewhere in the middle of these numbers, remember that a high test score can compensate for a slightly lower GPA, and vice versa. If you’re at the lower end, it helps if you’re a diverse applicant, the child of an alum, or have incredible personal achievements. Still, at the 25th percentile, your chances of getting in are in the low single digits.
Other aspects of your application, such as athletics, extracurricular and recommendations, are important, but will likely only make a difference for admission if you’re in the 75th percentile range for your GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
As we said, admission to Hawaii is mildly competitive. Even if Hawaii is your dream school, and even if you’re in the 75th percentile, you’ll still want to make sure you apply to a wide variety of schools to ensure you’ll gain admission somewhere.
Generally, you should have at least three safety schools (where you are in the 75th percentile of GPA/test scores), three reach schools (where you are in the 25th percentile of GPA/test scores) and three target schools (where you are near the average for GPA/test scores) on your list.
OK, so you’ve decided to apply. We took a look at Hawaii’s admissions requirements to help you get everything in order.
Hawaii Application Requirements
To apply to Hawaii, you’ll need to fill out the University of Hawaii System Admission Application, submit an ACT or SAT score, pay the $70 application fee, and submit your high school transcript. Everything should be submitted by January 5th for Early Action, and March 1st for Regular Decision.
Here’s a full list of application requirements:
- Fill out the University of Hawaiʻi System Admission Application
- Submit an ACT score or SAT score
- Pay the $70 application fee
- Submit your high school transcript
The application deadline is January 5th for Early Action and March 1st for Regular Decision.
Have you been admitted to Hawaii? Congratulations! Below is a glimpse of what your classmates will be like.
Hawaii Admitted Students Profile
If you matriculate at Hawaii, you’ll be joining a diverse class, with students from all over the U.S. and the world, and have a chance to study in dozens of fields.
Here are some interesting facts about the recently admitted class:
- Roughly 44% are male and 56% are female
- 2.5% of students are international
Hawaii has a diverse class, as well, with a large number of people of color. The ethnicities of admitted applicants are:
- International: 2.5%
- Underrepresented minority: 0.2%
- Two or more races: 16.1%
- White: 20%
What do these admitted students plan to study? Hawaii offers dozens of majors, and students matriculating there pursue a wide number of subjects. Here is a list of some of the top programs:
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- Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
Now, how are you going to pay for this?
Hawaii Tuition Figures
At $50,645, Hawaii’s cost of attendance is astronomical. But, don’t panic! Most incoming students receive some form of financial aid, and the average award is $14,213.
Here’s a fuller look at Hawaii tuition and financial aid in 2017:
- Total budget: $50,645
- Average financial aid package: $14,213
- The average student debt of a Hawaii graduate is $28,752
Now, what is life like at Hawaii? Let’s take a look.
Hawaii Location
Hawaii’s main campus is located in Manoa, an affluent Honolulu suburb, which is three miles east from downtown Honolulu itself.
The campus itself is filled with a vast array of public artworks from artists Robert Stackhouse, Tony Smith and Bob Flint among many others.
Remember, you’re going to Hawaii for its excellent academics! Below is a look at what academic life will be like.
Hawaii Academics
Hawaii has dozens of majors. Some of the school’s more interesting majors are:
- Accounting
- Business/Managerial Economics
- Computer Science
- Dental Hygiene
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Filipino/Tagalog Language and Literature
- Geology
- Human Resources
- International Business
- Journalism
- Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- Meteorology
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Soil Sciences
Now, let’s take a look at life outside the classroom at Hawaii.
Student Life at Hawaii
Hawaii has hundreds of student organizations, covering academic interests, creative and performing arts, cultural and racial initiatives, gender and sexuality affinity groups, government and politics interests, and various media and publications.
Here’s a sampling of Hawaii’s student activities:
- Associated Students of the University of Hawaii (ASUH)
- Board of Publications (BOP)
- Broadcast Communication Authority (BCA)
- Student Video and Filmmakers’ Association (SVFA)
- Graduate Student Organization (GSO)
- Campus Center Board (CCB)
- Student Activity and Program Fee Board (SAPFB)
Are you an athlete? Hawaii’s got plenty of options for you.
Hawaii Athletics
Hawaii offers a large number of intercollegiate sports, with extensive varsity, as well as club, offerings, for both men and women. So, if you’re not up to varsity level, remember there are plenty of club and intramural sports to try out for, too.
Hawaii’s sports include:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
Who might you become with a Hawaii degree? Let’s take a look at some well-known and successful alums:
Notable Alums
Hawaii has produced politicians, business tycoons, entertainers, musicians, media figures, and leaders in dozens of other fields.
Here’s a list of some particularly well-known alums:
- Astronaut Gordon Cooper
- Oceanographer Bob Ballard
- Actor Beau Bridges
- Artist Helen Gilbert
- Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons
- LGBT activist Elizabeth Birch
- Author Thom Jones
- Artist Rick Mills
- Comic book creator Stan Sakai
- Politician Daniel Inouye
And this is only a partial list!
Remember!
Getting into Hawaii is mildly competitive. Don’t despair if you get a no. If you have a strong GPA and high test scores, you have a great chance of getting into at least one of the more competitive schools. And if you don’t, remember: where you go is NOT who you are. If you work hard, you’ll end up at a school that’s right for you, and still get a great education.
If you need to boost your GPA or test scores before application time rolls around, you should consider signing up for a course with Prep Expert. We offer one-on-one tutoring and classes, both in-person and online, at locations throughout the United States.
Our expert teachers and tutors will not only share with you tried and true methods for improving your score, but also help you correct deficiencies in any subject that you’re having difficulty with—English, Writing, Mathematics or Science.
Additionally, online classes can be watched On Demand, so if you miss a class due to your busy schedule, you can catch it online later. We have helped hundreds of students get the scores they need to attend the school of their dreams.
For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!
Written by Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA
Prep Expert Founder & CEO
Shark Tank Winner, Perfect SAT Scorer, Dermatologist, & #1 Bestselling AuthorMore from Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA
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