2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Hawaii
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Kapiolani Community College earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools in Hawaii. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,284 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $33,307. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities will find it at Kauai Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Lihue, Kauai Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,388. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Kauai Community College earn a median of $23,210 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Honolulu Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,174, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $59,006. That is a strong return on a $9,236 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Hawaii Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Hilo, Hawaii Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,204 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,340. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,166 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Hawaii Community College earn a median of $25,212 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Windward Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Windward Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kaneohe. In-state tuition and fees average $3,194, while out-of-state students pay about $8,330. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,200. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Leeward Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,214, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Students borrow a median of $9,387 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Leeward Community College earn a median of $21,784 early in their careers. Set against $9,387 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Hawaii Maui College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Kahului, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Students borrow a median of $12,072 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Hawaii Maui College earn a median of $27,904 early in their careers. Set against $12,072 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Hawaii West Oahu placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Kapolei, University Of Hawaii West Oahu is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,584, with out-of-state students paying around $20,544. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $18,952. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Hawaii West Oahu earn a median of $29,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Hawaii West Oahu admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #9 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $23,877. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $20,074. That is a strong return on a $23,877 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Hawaii came in at #10 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Laie, Brigham Young University Hawaii is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $41,461. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Chaminade University Of Honolulu ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, Chaminade University Of Honolulu is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,874. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $25,096. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Chaminade University Of Honolulu earn a median of $48,383 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #12 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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. Students borrow a median of $25,385 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Hawaii Pacific University generally make around $49,182. That is a strong return on a $25,385 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education at a price that pays off.
