Help us level the playing field
Students can face many challenges as they pursue their education. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the UH Basic Needs Committee & the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice:
- 58% of University of Hawai‘i students experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity
- 39% experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days
- 44% experienced housing insecurity in the previous year
- 14% experienced homelessness in the previous year
They are also resilient. Your gifts can make a big difference for students between giving up and going forward … between unrealized potential and realizing a dream.
University of Hawai‘i Student Facts
UH Student Diversity
- Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian: 11,688 (24%)
- Pacific Islander: 1,166 (2%)
- Filipino: 6,917 (14%)
- Caucasian: 9,355 (19%)
- Japanese: 2,836 (6%)
- Chinese: 1,844 (4%)
- Mixed: 11,245 (22%)
- All Other: 4,722 (9%)
UH Student Residency
- Hawai‘i: 40,162 (81%)
- U.S. Mainland: 6,606 (13%)
- U.S. Affiliated: 492 (1%)
- Foreign: 1,809 (4%)
- Unknown: 704 (1%)
Enrollment
Total Enrollment: 49,773
Undergraduate: 44,315
Graduate: 5,458
Enrollment Status
Full-time: 49.1%
Part-time: 50.9%
Age & Gender*
Avg. Age: 24.8
Women: 60.8%
Men: 39.2%
* Full-time students
Pell Grant Recipients*
40%
* Eligible, full-time students awarded in Fall 2020
Source: UH Institutional Research & Analysis Office, Fall 2021.
Cost of Attendance
Did you know students' total cost of attendance amounts to more than just tuition? It includes:
- Tuition & fees
- Books & supplies
- Meals & housing
- Personal expenses
- Transportation costs

Average Cost of Attendance by Campus – AY 2021-22
UH Mānoa: $29,920
- Tuition: $11,304 (38%)
- Fees: $882 (3%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,350 (5%)
- Meals/Housing: $13,642 (46%)
- Personal Expenses: $2,742 (9%)
- Transportation*: $0
UH Hilo: $33,312
- Tuition: $7,344 (22%)
- Fees: $494 (2%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,350 (4%)
- Meals/Housing: $12,786 (38%)
- Personal Expenses: $8,654 (26%)
- Transportation: $2,654 (8%)
UH West O‘ahu: $29,974
- Tuition: $7,344 (25%)
- Fees: $240 (1%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,350 (5%)
- Meals/Housing: $16,104 (54%)
- Personal Expenses: $2,742 (9%)
- Transportation: $2,194 (7%)
UH Community Colleges (Avg.): $24,057
- Tuition: $3,144 (13%)
- Fees: $84 (1%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,350 (6%)
- Meals/Housing: $15,501 (64%)
- Personal Expenses: $2,742 (11%)
- Transportation*: $1,237 (5%)
UH Community Colleges: Average COA by Campus
Hawai‘i | Honolulu | Kapi‘olani | Kaua‘i | Leeward | Maui | Windward | |
Tuition | $3,144 | $3,144 | $3,144 | $3,144 | $3,144 | $3,144 | $3,144 |
Fees | $60 | $30 | $140 | $108 | $65 | $134 | $50 |
Books & supplies | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 |
Meals/Housing | $12,352 | $16,104 | $16,103 | $15,845 | $16,103 | $15,896 | $16,103 |
Personal Expenses | $2,742 | $2,742 | $2,742 | $2,742 | $2,742 | $2,742 | $2,742 |
Transportation* | $2,446 | $450 | $0 | $2,614 | $450 | $2,246 | $450 |
TOTAL: | $22,094 | $23,820 | $23,479 | $25,803 | $23,854 | $25,512 | $23,839 |
* UH Mānoa and Kapi‘olani CC have a mandatory student fee for bus passes.
Source: UH Institutional Research & Analysis Office
Unmet Student Need – AY 2020-21
Unmet need is the remaining amount needed for a student to attend college after all their funding sources are exhausted. It is calculated as the total Cost of Attendance less what the federal government estimates that a students’ family can reasonably contribute (expected family contribution) and less all grants and scholarships.
Avg. cost of attendance by campus
Avg. unmet need for UH students with the most financial need*
UH Mānoa
$23,077
UH Hilo
$29,562
UH West O‘ahu
$22,648
Hawai‘i CC
$18,354
Honolulu CC
$18,313
Kapi‘olani CC
$16,823
Kaua‘i CC
$21,560
Leeward CC
$18,289
UH Maui College
$21,099
Windward CC
$19,562
* Lowest Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) quartile of students who completed a FAFSA and were enrolled at a UH campus for AY 2020-21.