University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Kapolei, Hawaii. It enrolls 2,519 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value91
Affordability70
Selectivity8
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 95.3%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
95.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
931 – 1103
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 21
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Hawaii-West Oahu is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Hawaii-West Oahu isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,327 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,327
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,584
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,544
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,708
Books & Supplies
$1,350
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,240
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,410
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,674
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,077
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,247
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,155
Over $110,000
$17,718
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,76225%percentile
$14,500Medianpercentile
$18,24975%percentile
$27,71490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,500
↓ $2,000
No Pell $10,519
↓ $3,981
Dependent students $10,000
↓ $4,500
Independent students $12,500
↓ $2,000
Female students $12,018
↓ $2,482
Male students $10,750
↓ $3,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,296, less than completers ($14,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Hawaii-West Oahu graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Hawaii-West Oahu earn a median of $52,075 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,075
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Hawaii-West Oahu is home to 2,519 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 40% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,519
Part-Time
40%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Other 38.5%970
Asian 36.8%927
Hispanic 15.6%393
White 6.6%165
Black 1.7%42
International 0.4%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Hawaii-West Oahu. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbKapolei, Hawaii
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
39%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Hawaii-West Oahu offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
8 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Hawaii-West Oahu is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,740
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$269,194
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$99,669
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
88 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
32
36%
$119,113
Associate Professors
23
26%
$95,963
Assistant Professors
22
25%
$86,851
Instructors
11
13%
$76,488
Pros & Cons of University of Hawaii-West Oahu
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Hawaii-West Oahu tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu hard to get into?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 95.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu has an acceptance rate of 95.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Hawaii-West Oahu scored between 931 and 1103 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Hawaii-West Oahu scored between 15 and 21 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Hawaii-West Oahu cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Hawaii-West Oahu is $10,327 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,075 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,327 per year. That's roughly 5.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Hawaii-West Oahu known for?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Hawaii-West Oahu graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Hawaii-West Oahu are $52,075, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu accredited?
Yes. University of Hawaii-West Oahu is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu enrolls 2,519 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Hawaii-West Oahu a public or private college?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu is a Public institution.
Where is University of Hawaii-West Oahu located?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu is located in Kapolei, Hawaii.
What programs does University of Hawaii-West Oahu offer?
University of Hawaii-West Oahu offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Hawaii-West Oahu?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Hawaii-West Oahu is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Hawaii
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