Help us level the playing field
Students can face many challenges as they pursue their education. According to a 2025 survey conducted by the UH Basic Needs Committee & the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice:
- 60% of University of Hawai‘i students experienced at least one form of food insecurity, with 40% reporting going hungry in the past year due to lack of money.
- 25% of students identified as housing insecure, and 20% reported not having a safe place to sleep.
- 30% of students did not seek medical care when needed because of financial barriers, and 23% reported no access to health insurance.
- 25% of students faced hygiene insecurity, while another 25% struggled with clothing insecurity, sometimes missing class as a result.
- 14% of students reported unreliable internet access, limiting their ability to complete coursework.
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 Population
- Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian: 11,435 (23%)
- Pacific Islander: 1,380 (3%)
- Filipino: 7,416 (15%)
- Caucasian: 9,565 (19%)
- Japanese: 2,497 (5%)
- Chinese: 1,713 (3%)
- Mixed: 7,782 (15%)
- All Other: 8,630 (17%)
UH Student Residency
- Hawai‘i: 40,475 (80%)
- U.S. Mainland: 7,340 (15%)
- U.S. Affiliated: 525 (1%)
- Foreign: 1,857 (4%)
- Unknown: 222 (0%)
Enrollment
Total Enrollment: 50,418
Undergraduate: 39,408
Graduate: 5,029
Enrollment Status
Full-time: 49%
Part-time: 51%
Age & Gender*
Avg. Age: 24.2
Women: 59%
Men: 39%
No Data: 2%
* Full-time students
Pell Grant Recipients*
34%
* Eligible, full-time students awarded in Academic Year 2023-2024
Source: UH Institutional Research, Analysis & Planning Office, Fall 2024.
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 2024-25
UH Mānoa: $32,316
- Tuition: $11,304 (35%)
- Fees: $882 (3%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,360 (4%)
- Meals/Housing: $14,658 (45%)
- Personal Expenses: $2,862 (9%)
- Transportation*: $1,250 (4%)
UH Hilo: $25,816
- Tuition: $7,344 (30%)
- Fees: $542 (2%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,360 (5%)
- Meals/Housing: $11,586 (45%)
- Personal Expenses: $3,388 (13%)
- Transportation: $1,596 (6%)
UH West O‘ahu: $32,892
- Tuition: $7,344 (23%)
- Fees: $240 (1%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,360 (4%)
- Meals/Housing: $18,708 (57%)
- Personal Expenses: $2,742 (8%)
- Transportation: $2,498 (8%)
UH Community Colleges (Avg.): $33,610
- Tuition: $3,144 (12%)
- Fees: $143 (1%)
- Books & Supplies: $1,360 (4%)
- Meals/Housing: $22,501 (67%)
- Personal Expenses: $3,000 (9%)
- Transportation: $3,462 (10%)
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 | $128 | $98 | $206 | $108 | $138 | $206 | $118 |
| Books & supplies | $1,360 | $1,360 | $1,360 | $1,360 | $1,360 | $1,360 | $1,360 |
| Meals/Housing | $22,502 | $22,501 | $22,501 | $22,501 | $22,501 | $22,501 | $22,502 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Transportation* | $3,462 | $3,462 | $3,462 | $3,462 | $3,462 | $3,462 | $3,462 |
| TOTAL: | $33,596 | $33,565 | $33,673 | $33,575 | $33,605 | $33,673 | $33,586 |
* UH Mānoa and Kapi‘olani CC have a mandatory student fee for bus passes.
Source: UH Institutional Research, Analysis & Planning Office
Unmet Student Need – AY 2023-24
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
$25,137
UH Hilo
$37,714
UH West O‘ahu
$24,909
Hawai‘i CC
$23,023
Honolulu CC
$19,795
Kapi‘olani CC
$19,600
Kaua‘i CC
$23,936
Leeward CC
$20,443
UH Maui College
$21,784
Windward CC
$21,632
* Lowest Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) quartile of students who completed a FAFSA and were enrolled at a UH campus for AY 2023-24.
