2026 Best Value Education Schools in Hawaii
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Honolulu Community College the best value for a degree in education in Hawaii. Located in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Education graduates carry a median of $10,868 in student loans. Education graduates of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $59,006 early in their careers. Set against $10,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Leeward Community College earned it the #2 place for education. Located in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Students borrow a median of $11,874 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Leeward Community College generally make around $21,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Hawaii West Oahu earned it the #3 place for education. Located in the suburb of Kapolei, University Of Hawaii West Oahu is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,584, compared with $20,544 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $24,333. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Hawaii West Oahu generally make around $52,079. That is a strong return on a $24,333 median debt. University Of Hawaii West Oahu admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Hawaii At Hilo earned it the #4 place for education. Set in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,838, compared with $20,798 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $22,615 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Hilo generally make around $60,183. Set against $22,615 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #5. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for education graduates is $21,543. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $62,724. Set against $21,543 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Hawaii earned the #6 position for value in education this year. Brigham Young University Hawaii is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Laie. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Hawaii generally make around $41,461. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Chaminade University Of Honolulu placed #7 among the best values for education. Chaminade University Of Honolulu is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,874. Education graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Chaminade University Of Honolulu generally make around $48,383. That is a strong return on a $25,096 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #8 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,392. Education graduates carry a median of $25,385 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $56,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Education](/majors/education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
