AccessibleReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

University of Hawaiʻi acceptance rate and admissions profile

University of Hawaiʻi, a public university in Hawaii, reports a 87% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what University of Hawaiʻi weighs, where it ranks among Hawaii schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1220, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
87%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1220
of admitted students
Type
Public
Hawaii
Selectivity in state
#3
of 4 in HI
Get your real chances at University of Hawaiʻi
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into University of Hawaiʻi?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Hawaiʻi, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into University of Hawaiʻi?

Your odds at University of Hawaiʻi are not the same as its 87% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Hawaiʻi in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is University of Hawaiʻi hard to get into?

University of Hawaiʻi is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 87% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into University of Hawaiʻi?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Hawaiʻi, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of Hawaiʻi reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for University of Hawaiʻi?

University of Hawaiʻi does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1220. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Hawaiʻi.

Calculate your chances at University of Hawaiʻi

What University of Hawaiʻi looks for

What University of Hawaiʻi weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at University of Hawaiʻi are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Hawaiʻi's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at University of Hawaiʻi

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at University of Hawaiʻi
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 25 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How University of Hawaiʻi compares in Hawaii

University of Hawaiʻi ranks #3 most selective of 4 schools in Hawaii in our database.

Among the 4 Hawaii schools we track, University of Hawaiʻi ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Hawaii Hilo (61%) and Hawaii Pacific University (86%) sit nearby, which makes Hawaii a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Hawaii Hilo
61%acceptance · HI
Hawaii Pacific University
86%acceptance · HI
Chaminade University
91%acceptance · HI
See all Hawaii schools →

Similar to University of Hawaiʻi

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting University of Hawaiʻi often weigh Boise State University, George Mason University, and North Carolina Central University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Boise State University
87%acceptance · ID
George Mason University
87%acceptance · VA
North Carolina Central University
87%acceptance · NC
Southern Illinois University
87%acceptance · IL
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
87%acceptance · LA
University of Nebraska
87%acceptance · NE

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Hawaiʻi value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, University of Hawaiʻi weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does University of Hawaiʻi favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, University of Hawaiʻi generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at University of Hawaiʻi?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Hawaiʻi specifically.

What are the admission requirements for University of Hawaiʻi?

University of Hawaiʻi reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is University of Hawaiʻi test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm University of Hawaiʻi's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1220; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.