Compare NCLEX pass rates, costs, and outcomes for every accredited nursing program across the Hawaiian Islands.
An associate degree from Kapiolani Community College costs about $3,300 in tuition; a private BSN at Hawaii Pacific University runs over $34,000. That price gap forces students to weigh lower upfront costs against faster degree completion and broader career mobility. The bigger barrier, though, is capacity: Hawaii has only eight accredited prelicensure nursing programs, scattered across Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, with most cohorts numbering fewer than 30 students. Island geography further restricts clinical placements. In a state with a persistent RN shortage, gaining admission is the first hurdle, but where you train determines the clinical networks and job prospects you carry onto the neighbor islands.
Hawaii's nursing education landscape is defined by a handful of institutions, with the University of Hawaii system serving as the backbone for both associate and bachelor's degree pathways. From Oahu's flagship programs at UH Manoa to neighbor-island options like Kauai CC and UH Hilo, students can choose between public affordability and private school flexibility. The following ranking highlights the top programs based on affordability, graduation rates, and career outcomes that matter to aspiring nurses in Hawaii.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | In-state students seeking a flagship BSN | |
The flagship nursing school in the UH system offers a traditional BSN with multiple entry points, including direct high school admission and a partnership with UH West Oahu. With a strong 64% graduation rate and a net price around $15,664, it provides both quality and value. The program emphasizes holistic patient care and cultural competence, preparing graduates for licensure in Hawaii and beyond.
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| #2 | Kauai Community College | Lihue, HI | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | Kauai residents needing an affordable ADN | |
Located in Lihue, this ACEN-accredited associate degree program is a critical pipeline for registered nurses on Kauai. With a net price of about $10,436 and a median debt of $10,500, it offers an affordable entry into nursing. Students complete a two-year curriculum that includes summer sessions and prepares them for the NCLEX-RN and transfer to UH Manoa's BSN.
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| #3 | University of Hawaii at Hilo | Hilo, HI | $12,000/yr | Aspiring rural health nurses | |
This Big Island campus provides a BSN with a focus on culturally congruent care for rural and underserved communities. Competitive admission limits cohorts to 30 in Hilo and 10 in Waianae, ensuring personalized attention. The program's strong ties to rural clinical sites and simulation labs make it a standout for students seeking a community-embedded education.
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| #4 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | ||
As Oahu's private, faith-based option, Chaminade delivers a values-driven BSN with deep ties to local clinical partners. The four-year program emphasizes hands-on learning and leadership, with a net price around $28,856. Its smaller class sizes and individual mentoring appeal to students seeking a supportive environment.
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| #5 | University of Hawaii Maui College | Kahului, HI | $8,000/yr | ||
Part of the UH system on Maui, this ASN program prepares students for both PN and RN roles with a focus on patient-centered care and cultural awareness. At a net price of just $8,061, it is one of the most affordable nursing pathways in the state. Graduates are eligible for NCLEX-RN licensure and may continue to a BSN.
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| #6 | Hawaii Community College | Hilo, HI | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Based in Hilo, this associate degree program serves mostly Pell-eligible students and offers an LPN-to-ASN bridge. With a net price of $8,942 and a debt median of $10,500, it provides a low-cost entry to nursing. The curriculum covers essential general education and nursing courses, leading to RN licensure eligibility.
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| #7 | Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu, HI | $5,000/yr | ||
This Honolulu-based ADN program consistently posts high NCLEX pass rates and holds a key role in the UH system's nursing pipeline. With a remarkably low net price of $5,202 and median debt of $9,229, it is a top choice for cost-conscious students. The program offers seamless transfer pathways to UH Manoa and UH Hilo BSN programs.
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| #8 | Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | $30,000/yr (net price) | ||
Hawaii Pacific University's BSN leverages Oahu's multicultural environment to train nurses for diverse healthcare settings. Although its net price of $29,657 is higher than public alternatives, its graduates report median earnings of $59,593, the highest among Hawaii nursing schools. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice and professional development.
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As nursing school search tools are shifting toward greater transparency, ranking methodologies that hide behind vague labels are losing credibility.
With that in mind, we built our 2026 Hawaii rankings on a weighted composite of four factors drawn from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard: net price after financial aid, institution-wide graduation rate, median earnings one year after completing a program, and typical debt burden. Each metric is scored on a relative scale so that schools are compared fairly within the state. Net price reflects the average cost students actually pay after grants and scholarships, which gives a more realistic picture than sticker prices. Graduation rate captures overall student success, though it is measured at the institutional level, not just for nursing majors. Earnings and debt outcomes are specifically tied to the nursing programs, offering insight into how well graduates transition into the workforce.
You will notice that NCLEX pass rates are not part of our ranking formula. Those numbers are critical, but we present them as a separate standalone comparison in the next section. Including them would double-count a licensure outcome that varies year by year and can be influenced by factors outside a program’s core quality, like student cohort characteristics. By keeping them separate, you can weigh that data alongside our broader value metrics.
Many nursing school lists simply declare their picks without explaining the criteria. That approach can hide biased selection or outdated information. We deliberately walk you through the exact data points and their limitations, such as the institution-wide graduation rate and the time lag in earnings data, so you can make an informed decision. This openness is designed to earn your confidence, not just clicks.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in Hawaii range from public universities with lower in-state tuition to private institutions with flat-rate pricing. The net price, which reflects what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, often tells a clearer story about affordability than sticker price alone.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Graduation Rate | Median Debt | Median Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii at Hilo | $7,838 | $20,798 | $11,856 | 48.4% | $20,500 | $47,856 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | $12,186 | $34,218 | $15,664 | 64.3% | $18,500 | $57,624 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | $30,874 | $30,874 | $28,856 | 55.4% | $23,250 | $52,343 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | $34,392 | $34,392 | $29,657 | 34.9% | $22,000 | $59,593 |
Hawaii's high cost of living makes net price far more telling than sticker tuition. A program with higher tuition but generous housing aid or scholarships can cost less overall than a cheaper school that leaves you covering steep living expenses alone.
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s BSN program reported a perfect 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 20231, the most recent year for which program-level data is available. That single statistic often serves as the clearest snapshot of how well a nursing school prepares its graduates for licensure, and for the demands of clinical practice.
The NCLEX-RN is the national licensing exam all registered nurse candidates must pass before they can practice. First-time pass rates reveal how effectively a program teaches the clinical judgment and critical-thinking skills the exam measures. A high pass rate suggests strong curriculum design, quality instructors, and robust student support. Conversely, a program with consistently low first-time pass rates may struggle with curriculum gaps or inadequate clinical preparation, and in extreme cases can lose accreditation or state board approval. For students, the stakes are practical: a first-time failure means waiting 45 days to retest, lost income from a delayed start to a nursing career, and added exam fees.
Hawaii’s nursing programs, as a group, outperform the national benchmark. Across all nine Hawaii pre-licensure programs, the average first-time NCLEX pass rate was 91.3% according to the most recent aggregated data, compared with a national average of 86.6%. That gap of nearly 5 percentage points speaks to the overall strength of nursing education in the islands.
Two standout programs illustrate the range. The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s traditional BSN achieved a 100% pass rate1, while its Graduate Entry Program in Nursing, designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, posted a 98% first-time pass rate1. These numbers are drawn from the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene’s published fast facts1; similarly detailed data for other Hawaii ADN and BSN programs can be found in the Hawaii Board of Nursing’s annual NCLEX reports. Prospective students should check those reports directly, as pass rates can shift meaningfully from year to year.
A single year’s pass rate offers a snapshot, not a movie. When evaluating programs, look for three- to five-year trends to gauge consistency. A program that maintains a pass rate above the state average year after year is one to prioritize. Also note the context: some schools enroll students with lower entering GPAs or test scores, yet still produce solid outcomes; that can signal strong teaching and remediation support. Pay attention to whether the rate reflects all students who took the exam or only a subset , the most reliable measure is the first-time pass rate for all graduates sitting for the exam within a given testing window. Finally, remember that Hawaii’s small number of programs makes it easier to do this comparison than in larger states. Spending an hour reviewing each program’s recent pass-rate history can give you a realistic picture of how well you will be prepared on exam day.
Hawaii offers multiple educational routes into registered nursing, and each one serves a different timeline, budget, and career stage. Whether you’re starting college for the first time or already hold a degree in another field, you’ll find programs designed to get you to the NCLEX-RN efficiently.
The two most common pre-licensure pathways are the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), also called the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). Both prepare graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN and apply for licensure as a registered nurse.
BSN programs, offered at University of Hawaii at Manoa, UH Hilo, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University, provide comprehensive nursing education that includes community health, leadership, and research. Manoa’s BSN is a cohort model completed in three years after prerequisites, while Chaminade follows a lock-step four-year curriculum. ADN programs are housed within Hawaii’s community colleges, including Kapiolani CC, Kauai CC, Hawaii CC, and UH Maui College. These campus-based programs typically take two years of full-time study and emphasize direct patient care skills. They are a more affordable entry point, with tuition under $4,000 per year for residents at most campuses.
For career changers who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, accelerated pathways condense nursing education into a shorter timeframe. The primary option in Hawaii is the University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Entry Program in Nursing. This 12-month, 49-credit program leads to an MSN or DNP, not a BSN, and is designed for students who want to enter advanced practice quickly. (A previously offered 17-month accelerated BSN at UH Manoa is no longer available.) Applicants need a bachelor’s in another field and must complete specific science prerequisites. Hawaii Pacific University also welcomes second-degree students into its traditional BSN pathway, though it is not an accelerated track. Chaminade University does not offer an accelerated program.
RN-to-BSN programs are designed for nurses who already hold an ADN or diploma and an active RN license. These are not pre-licensure programs; they build on existing nursing knowledge to deliver the baccalaureate-level coursework most employers prefer. Hawaii Pacific University offers a fully online RN-to-BSN track that accepts students from accredited ADN or diploma programs. This flexibility lets working nurses complete their BSN without relocating or leaving a job. Other Hawaii schools, such as UH Manoa and UH Hilo, have articulation agreements that create a seamless transfer path for ADN graduates but typically require some on-campus attendance for the BSN completion.
Hawaii’s community college ADN programs are designed with articulation in mind. Graduates from Kapiolani CC, Kauai CC, Hawaii CC, or UH Maui College can apply their associate degree credits toward a BSN at one of the university campuses. Kapiolani’s ASN program, for example, maintains direct transfer eligibility to the UH system BSN programs. This ladder approach helps nurses start their career sooner with an ADN, then return to complete the BSN while working. Schools like Hawaii Pacific University also offer bridge pathways for licensed practical nurses (LPN/LVN to BSN) and military corpsmen (HM to BSN), recognizing prior medical training and accelerating degree completion.
Gaining admission to a nursing program in Hawaii demands more than meeting the university’s baseline requirements, the nursing-specific process is distinctly more selective.
Overall university acceptance rates can be misleading. At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, for instance, the general acceptance rate hovers around 87%, and Hawaii Pacific University accepts roughly 86% of applicants. But nursing programs draw a more qualified pool and employ stricter screens. UH Manoa’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires a B or higher in every prerequisite course and maintains a competitive cohort environment, while non-residents face a high school GPA cutoff of 3.6. Hawaii Pacific University sets both cumulative and science GPA minimums of 3.0, on top of a TEAS score requirement. These layered criteria mean that the effective nursing acceptance rate is significantly lower than the university-wide figures suggest.
Most Hawaii BSN programs expect a solid foundation in sciences and math. Typical prerequisites include anatomy and physiology with labs, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. At UH Manoa, students must complete specific physiology and microbiology courses (including lab components) plus a quantitative reasoning course, all with a grade of B or better. Hawaii Pacific University spells out a detailed sequence: two semesters of anatomy and physiology with corresponding labs, a microbiology course with lab, general chemistry, and statistics. Both schools emphasize that strong performance in these prerequisites is the first real gatekeeper; many otherwise qualified students are redirected because of a single low grade.
Standardized exams and additional documents further shape the admissions landscape. Hawaii Pacific University requires the ATI TEAS exam with a minimum score of 70%, a hurdle that tests reading, math, science, and English skills. UH Manoa does not mandate the TEAS for nursing applicants, but non-residents must submit ACT or SAT scores. Beyond test scores, both programs ask for personal statements that demonstrate motivation and alignment with nursing values. UH Manoa also expects a resume, while HPU requests two letters of recommendation. Deadlines are early, January 19 for UH Manoa and February 1 for HPU, both for fall 2026 entry, so planning ahead is essential.
A look at Pell Grant data shows that nursing schools in Hawaii serve a financially diverse student body. At UH Manoa, 62% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, and at Hawaii Pacific University the share is 60%. These figures indicate that, while tuition and living costs in Hawaii can be high, the institutions enroll a majority of students who qualify for need-based federal aid. Paired with scholarships and loan programs, this suggests that admitted nursing students with strong academic profiles often find a path to afford their education despite the sticker price.
Nurses in Hawaii earn among the highest wages in the country. According to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the most recent available, registered nurses in the state have a mean annual salary of $106,530. That places Hawaii second in the nation for RN pay, outpaced only by California. To put that into perspective, the national median salary for RNs is $93,600, meaning Hawaii nurses typically command a significant premium over the typical U.S. nurse.
National wage percentiles for registered nurses help frame the earning spectrum: the lowest 10th percentile earns around $66,030, the 25th percentile $78,610, the 75th percentile $107,960, and the top 90th percentile reaches $135,320. While Hawaii-specific percentile data is not separately published by the BLS, experienced nurses in the state often fall into the upper end of that range thanks to strong demand and a high cost of living.
A $106,000 salary sounds impressive, but it is important to weigh Hawaii's famously high cost of living. Housing, groceries, and utilities all run well above the national average, which means a higher paycheck does not always translate into greater purchasing power. Still, many nurses find the trade-off worthwhile, especially those who value Hawaii's lifestyle, outdoor access, and tight-knit healthcare communities. For nurses willing to work on neighbor islands or in rural areas, compensation packages sometimes include housing stipends or relocation assistance that help offset the expense.
Nationally, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings each year due to retirements and workforce exits. Hawaii's demand drivers are especially pronounced. A rapidly aging population increases the need for long-term and acute care. The tourism industry keeps healthcare facilities busy year-round, and the state's unique geography creates persistent staffing gaps on the neighbor islands, particularly in rural areas of Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Molokai. New graduates willing to work in these underserved areas often find multiple job offers.
Program-level earnings shortly after graduation are not yet published for Hawaii nursing schools, but long-term earning potential offers a useful benchmark. Among the schools featured on this page, median earnings ten years after enrollment range from about $34,500 for graduates of University of Hawaii Maui College to roughly $59,600 for those from Hawaii Pacific University. Other institutions fall in between: Chaminade University around $52,300, University of Hawaii at Manoa about $57,600, and Kapiolani Community College near $44,600. These figures reflect all graduates, not just nursing alumni, but they signal the typical economic outcomes students can expect after completing a degree at these schools. Keep in mind that a bachelor-prepared nurse in Hawaii often starts above these long-run medians, and earnings grow substantially with experience and advanced certifications.
How can nursing students in Hawaii find scholarships and loan repayment programs to reduce their educational costs?
Several Hawaii-specific scholarships target nursing students. The Hawaii Community Foundation administers multiple funds, including the Dr. Hans & Clara Zimmerman Foundation Health Scholarship, which often awards up to $5,000 per year to Hawaii residents pursuing health-related degrees. Preference goes to students of Hawaiian ancestry and those committed to serving in rural areas. The HMSA Foundation offers the HMSA Kaimana Scholarship, providing up to $5,000 annually to undergraduate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate leadership and community involvement. Check their websites for February, April deadlines.
The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program covers tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for students willing to work in a critical shortage facility after graduation. Many Hawaii hospitals and clinics qualify as eligible sites. The Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) offers up to $25,000 per year toward educational loans for RNs and advanced practice nurses who practice full-time in designated health professional shortage areas. Contact the Hawaii State Department of Health for current application cycles.
The Hawaii State Center for Nursing posts a curated list of scholarships and loan repayment options on its website. The Hawaii Nurses' Association occasionally offers small grants for continuing education. Membership in national organizations like the American Nurses Association can open access to additional funds, though some are not Hawaii-specific.
Have more questions about nursing education in Hawaii? Our directory covers everything from program rankings to NCLEX pass rates and financial aid. Below you'll find answers to common questions from aspiring nurses like you.
