Hawaii Pacific University

Private · Moderately Selective · HI

Photo: Joel Bradshaw (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationHI · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads2,392

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate25.6%

6-yr grad rate34.9%

Drop-out rate43.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$34k

Out-of-state tuition$34k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity71.9%

Gender diversity63.8%

International4.4%

Identity—

Overview

Hawaii Pacific University is a private university based in downtown Honolulu with an unusually international and multicultural student body, drawing heavily from across the Pacific Rim and mainland United States as well as Hawaii itself. Its identity is shaped as much by that mix of backgrounds as by its location.

Academics

Marine biology is a signature strength, supported by the university's Oceanic Institute, an aquaculture and marine research facility that gives undergraduates access to research most schools this size could not offer. Nursing, business, and diplomacy and military studies are other established programs, the latter benefiting from Hawaii's concentration of military installations and Pacific-facing foreign policy interest.

Campus & student life

The main campus sits in downtown Honolulu, an urban setting closer to office towers and harbor views than a traditional quad. Beaches, hiking trails, and the rest of Oahu are close by, so student life blends city routines with easy access to the outdoors. The international character of the student body is one of the more distinctive things about attending.

Worth knowing

The Oceanic Institute connection is a genuine research asset for marine biology and aquaculture students, not just a name on a brochure. The diplomacy and military studies programs draw on Hawaii's role as a Pacific military and diplomatic hub in ways a mainland school could not easily replicate.

hpu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate85.9%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 998–1200 · ACT 19–27

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying