Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Hawaii
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Hawaii-West Oahu, Windward Community College and Hawaii Community College are the top Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Hawaii by graduate earnings. University of Hawaii-West Oahu leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,588, College Scorecard. Leeward Community College, Hawaii Community College and Windward Community College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees and certificates in Hawaii: 487, 179 and 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Hawaii colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 1,693 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu Kapolei Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,588 | 31 | 50% | — | $18,952 |
| 2 | Windward Community College Kaneohe Public · Associate degree | $27,200 | 152 | 31% | — | $12,000 |
| 3 | Hawaii Community College Hilo Public · Associate degree | $25,212 | 179 | 33% | — | $9,166 |
| 4 | Kauai Community College Lihue Public · Associate degree | $23,210 | 49 | 48% | — | $5,500 |
| 5 | Leeward Community College Pearl City Public · Associate degree | $21,784 | 487 | 35% | — | $9,387 |
| 6 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,074 | 91 | 64% | — | $23,877 |
| 7 | Kapiolani Community College Honolulu Public · Associate degree | $33,307 | 304 | 22% | — | $10,500 |
| 8 | University of Hawaii Maui College Kahului Public · Associate degree | $27,904 | 127 | 28% | — | $12,072 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Hawaii
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeward Community College Pearl City Public | 487 | $21,784 |
| 2 | Hawaii Community College Hilo Public | 179 | $25,212 |
| 3 | Windward Community College Kaneohe Public | 152 | $27,200 |
| 4 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Public | 91 | $20,074 |
| 5 | Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu Private not-for-profit | 87 | Not reported |
| 6 | Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 7 | Kauai Community College Lihue Public | 49 | $23,210 |
| 8 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu Kapolei Public | 31 | $29,588 |
| 9 | Brigham Young University - Hawaii Laie Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 10 | Hawaii Tokai International College Kapolei Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 Hawaii colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu | Public | 304 |
| University of Hawaii Maui College | Kahului | Public | 127 |
| Honolulu Community College | Honolulu | Public | 100 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Hawaii
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Hawaii.
Which Hawaii colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Leeward Community College (487 graduates a year), Hawaii Community College (179 graduates a year) and Windward Community College (152 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees and certificates in Hawaii, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Hawaii colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Hawaii?+
By graduate earnings, University of Hawaii-West Oahu leads among Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Hawaii, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,588, College Scorecard. Windward Community College and Hawaii Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Leeward Community College is the largest, with 487 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Hawaii has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Hawaii-West Oahu tops the list at $29,588. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Hawaii?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Hawaii is $66,490 (median $49,730), across about 510 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card