Is University of Hawaii at Manoa hard to get into?

UH Mānoa is accessible compared with highly selective universities, but admission is not automatic for every applicant. The admissions committee reviews high school courses, grade performance, academic trends, course rigor and readiness for the selected program.

What SAT score is good for University of Hawaii at Manoa?

UH Mānoa’s admitted fall 2025 freshman middle SAT range was 1130 to 1350. Because UH Mānoa is test optional and uses a Do No Harm policy, students should submit SAT scores only if they help the application or are needed for scholarships or direct-entry programs.

What ACT score is good for University of Hawaii at Manoa?

UH Mānoa’s admitted fall 2025 freshman middle ACT range was 21 to 29. Applicants should submit ACT scores only if they strengthen the file or are required for a scholarship or direct-entry program.

Is University of Hawaii at Manoa test optional for 2026?

Yes. UH Mānoa freshman applicants may choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. UH Mānoa also uses a Do No Harm policy, meaning submitted scores that would hurt admission or scholarship consideration are excluded from review.

What are University of Hawaii at Manoa application deadlines?

UH Mānoa lists January 5 as the fall priority deadline, April 1 as the fall final deadline and May 1 as the fall late application deadline. For spring, the priority deadline is September 1, final deadline is October 1 and late deadline is November 3.

What courses are required for University of Hawaii at Manoa freshman admission?

UH Mānoa expects freshman applicants to complete 4 units of English, 3 units of math including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry, 3 units of science, 3 units of social studies, 4 units of other college-prep courses and 5 electives.

How much does University of Hawaii at Manoa cost in 2026–2027?

For undergraduate 2026–2027 full-time cost of attendance, UH Mānoa estimates Hawaiʻi resident totals of $30,120 living with parents, $33,728 on campus and $39,612 off campus. Nonresident totals are $52,152 living with parents, $55,760 on campus and $61,644 off campus.

University of Hawaii Acceptance Rate 2026: GPA, SAT & Admissions Guide

🌺 University of Hawaiʻi acceptance rate 2026 guide

University of Hawaii Acceptance Rate 2026: 88% Admit Rate, GPA, SAT, ACT & Admissions Guide

88%

Direct answer: For 2026 planning, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s latest official fall 2025 freshman snapshot shows 17,389 applicants, 15,302 admits and an 88% overall admit rate. That makes UH Mānoa accessible, but not a school to treat as automatic.

The 88% rate is the headline, but your real chance depends on residency, GPA, high school courses, academic trends, course rigor, intended program and whether you submit optional SAT/ACT scores.

This guide gives quick answers first: acceptance rate, in-state vs out-of-state rates, GPA range, SAT/ACT ranges, test-optional policy, deadlines, required courses, direct-admit programs, cost, video guide, FAQs and official UH Mānoa links.

📊 Acceptance rate 📅 Deadlines 📚 GPA & test scores ✅ Checklist

88% Overall admit rate

15,302 admitted from 17,389 applicants in the official fall 2025 freshman snapshot.

3.49–4.04 Admitted GPA range

Official middle 25th–75th percentile cumulative GPA for admitted freshmen.

Test
Optional Do No Harm policy

Submitted SAT/ACT scores are excluded if they would hurt admission or scholarship review.

Jan 5 Fall priority deadline

Priority application deadline for fall admission and better access to aid/housing resources.

Quick navigation for UH Mānoa applicants

📊 Acceptance rate by applicant group 📅 Fall and spring deadlines 📚 GPA, SAT, ACT and test optional 📘 Required high school courses 🏫 Direct-entry and major strategy 📄 Application materials ✅ Application checklist ❓ 10 UH Mānoa FAQs

University of Hawaii acceptance rate 2026: answer first

Applicant group	Official fall 2025 admit rate	What it means for 2026 applicants
All freshmen / first-year students	88% admitted: 15,302 of 17,389 applicants.	UH Mānoa is accessible, but students still need academic preparation and complete materials.
Hawaiʻi in-state applicants	90% admitted: 4,808 of 5,354 applicants.	Strong pathway for Hawaiʻi residents who complete requirements and meet GPA expectations.
U.S. out-of-state applicants	83% admitted: 3,387 of 4,099 applicants.	Still accessible, but out-of-state cost and fit should be planned carefully.
WUE states	90% admitted: 6,806 of 7,541 applicants.	WUE can make cost more realistic for eligible western-state students.
International applicants	76% admitted: 301 of 395 applicants.	More selective than the overall rate; documents, English readiness and deadlines matter.

UH Mānoa acceptance rate 2026 planning = 88% overall rate + 3.49–4.04 admitted GPA range + completed high school course requirements + program-specific review

University of Hawaii at Mānoa application deadlines

Semester	Deadline type	Date	Why applicants should care
Fall	Priority deadline	January 5	Best target for aid, housing and smoother review access.
Fall	Final deadline	April 1	Complete applications must meet final deadline rules.
Fall	Late application deadline	May 1	Late applications may be accepted, but options can be more limited.
Spring	Priority deadline	September 1	Best target for spring applicants.
Spring	Final deadline	October 1	Final regular spring deadline.
Spring	Late application deadline	November 3	Late spring applications may be accepted if space and program rules allow.

Deadline warning: UH Mānoa says incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Certain programs such as nursing, social work and education may have earlier or extra deadlines.

UH Mānoa GPA, SAT and ACT: what is competitive?

GPA answer

3.49–4.04 was the official admitted-student middle cumulative GPA range for fall 2025 freshmen.

Hawaiʻi resident pathway

Hawaiʻi residents with at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA and completed course requirements are offered admission.

SAT answer

Official admitted-student middle SAT range: 1130–1350. Submit only if it helps.

ACT answer

Official admitted-student middle ACT range: 21–29. Scores are optional for most freshmen.

Applicant situation	What UH Mānoa may notice	Best action
GPA above 4.04	Above the admitted middle range.	Apply by priority deadline and check direct-entry programs if interested.
GPA 3.49–4.04	Inside the admitted middle range.	Make sure all required courses are completed and application is accurate.
GPA near or below 3.49	Below the middle range, but still possible depending on context.	Show strong senior courses, academic trend, rigor and complete course preparation.
Hawaiʻi resident with 3.2+ GPA	May qualify under UH Mānoa’s resident commitment if course requirements are complete.	Do not miss required courses or deadline requirements.
Strong SAT/ACT score	Can support academic readiness or scholarship/direct-entry review.	Submit if it helps; UH Mānoa’s policy prevents harmful scores from being counted.
No test score	Allowed under test-optional review.	Let GPA, course rigor and transcript carry the academic proof.

Score submission rule: Submit SAT or ACT if it helps, especially for scholarships or direct-entry programs. UH Mānoa says harmful submitted scores are excluded from consideration.

Required high school courses for UH Mānoa freshman admission

Course area	UH Mānoa expectation	Applicant tip
English	4 units	Strong English grades help show college writing readiness.
Math	3 units, including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry.	Take a 4th year if available, especially for STEM, business or health interests.
Science	3 units	Important for nursing, health, engineering, natural science and pre-professional goals.
Social studies	3 units	Keep social science courses strong because UH reviews the full academic record.
Other college-prep	4 units; can include additional math, science, social science or foreign language.	Use these courses to strengthen the major direction.
Electives	5 units	Examples include art, dance, band, PE, AVID and computer science.

Major-specific warning: Professional and selective programs may require specific GPAs, prerequisites, test scores or additional review. Nursing and business direct-entry paths are not the same as general admission.

Program strategy: business, nursing, WUE, international and homeschooled applicants

Applicant path	What matters most	What to do before applying
Shidler Business Direct Admit	Designed for high-achieving incoming freshmen who want early business entry.	Check direct-admit rules and prepare stronger grades, scores if useful and business interest.
Nursing Direct Entry	Freshmen enter a pathway toward BS Nursing with prerequisites in year 1 and nursing courses beginning year 2.	Check nursing requirements early because it can be more selective than general admission.
WUE applicants	Fall 2025 WUE admitted rate was 90%.	Confirm WUE eligibility and compare WUE tuition with nonresident tuition.
International applicants	Fall 2025 international admit rate was 76%.	Prepare English readiness, transcripts, visa timing and cost planning early.
Homeschooled applicants	May need extra documentation if no accredited transcript/diploma is available.	Check whether SAT, ACT, GED, HiSET or TASC evidence is needed.

Practical point: General UH Mānoa admission may be accessible, but direct-entry business, nursing and professional pathways can demand stronger evidence.

University of Hawaii application materials: what you actually need

UH Mānoa admission application $70 application fee Fee waived for Hawaiʻi residents Self-reported high school record Official transcript if requested SAT optional ACT optional SAT code 4867 ACT code 0902 International documents if applicable Program-specific materials if required Application status check

Material	Official detail	Common mistake
UH Mānoa application	Freshman applicants apply through the university admission application.	Starting late and missing priority access to aid or housing resources.
Application fee	$70 U.S.; waived for residents of Hawaiʻi.	Out-of-state students forget the fee; Hawaiʻi residents miss the waiver detail.
High school record	Initial decision is based on self-reported high school information.	Entering courses or grades inaccurately.
Official transcript	May be requested for validation and/or scholarships; multiple high schools require transcripts from each.	Only sending one transcript after attending multiple schools.
SAT/ACT	Optional for freshmen, but may matter for scholarships or direct-entry programs.	Assuming optional means never useful.

University of Hawaii admissions video guide

Watch the video, then use the checklist below to turn general advice into a complete UH Mānoa application plan.

After watching, write down: your residency group, GPA, completed required courses, intended major, whether SAT/ACT helps and whether you need business, nursing, international or homeschool-specific steps.

University of Hawaii application checklist: scan before submitting

Start with the 88% reality UH Mānoa is accessible, but the application still depends on academic preparation and complete materials.

Check your applicant group In-state, out-of-state, WUE and international admit rates differ. Your cost and documents also differ.

Confirm required courses English, math, science, social studies, other college-prep and electives should match UH Mānoa expectations.

Compare your GPA Use the 3.49–4.04 admitted middle range as a guide, not a guarantee.

Make a test-score decision Submit SAT/ACT if it helps, especially for scholarships or direct-entry programs.

Check program requirements Nursing, business, social work, education and other programs may have earlier or additional requirements.

Apply by January 5 if possible Priority deadline improves access to resources such as aid and housing.

Watch for transcript requests Official transcripts may be requested for validation or scholarships after self-reporting.

University of Hawaii cost and aid points applicants should know

Cost question	2026–2027 official estimate	Action for families
Hawaiʻi resident living with parents	$30,120 total estimated cost of attendance.	Budget tuition, fees, books, food, transport and personal expenses.
Hawaiʻi resident living on campus	$33,728 total estimated cost of attendance.	Compare housing and food costs with family budget.
Hawaiʻi resident living off campus	$39,612 total estimated cost of attendance.	Off-campus housing can raise total cost.
Nonresident living on campus	$55,760 total estimated cost of attendance.	Out-of-state students should compare net cost and aid carefully.
Pacific Island Jurisdiction / WUE on campus	$39,608 total estimated cost of attendance.	Eligible students should confirm WUE or Pacific Island Jurisdiction status.

Cost warning: Do not compare UH Mānoa by tuition only. Housing, food, books, transportation, personal expenses, residency and WUE status can change the real price.

Common mistakes that hurt UH Mānoa applicants

Thinking 88% means automatic: UH Mānoa still checks courses, grades, rigor and program readiness.
Missing required courses: Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry matter inside the math requirement.
Ignoring priority deadline: January 5 is better for access to aid and housing resources.
Submitting inaccurate self-reported grades: Official transcripts may later validate your record.
Not checking program rules: Nursing and Shidler direct admission are more specific than general admission.
Assuming test optional means useless: Scores may still help for scholarships or direct-entry programs.
Not comparing WUE cost: WUE can change affordability for eligible western-state students.
Waiting on international documents: English readiness, transcripts and visa timing can take longer.
Ignoring housing cost: Honolulu living costs can affect real affordability.
Not checking status after applying: Application processing and document requests require attention.

Official University of Hawaii links and sources

The key details above are already included in this guide. Use these official links before final submission to verify current admission rules, deadlines, testing policy, cost and program requirements.

UH Mānoa freshman admissions

Official source for 88% admit rate, applicant/admit counts, GPA range, SAT/ACT ranges, course expectations, materials and deadlines.

Open UH Mānoa freshman admissions

UH Mānoa application requirements

Freshman, transfer, international and second bachelor application routes plus deadlines and status guidance.

Open UH Mānoa requirements

UH Mānoa international admissions

Official international deadlines, documents and admissions contact details.

Open international admissions

2026–2027 cost of attendance

Official full-time undergraduate cost estimates by residency and living arrangement.

Open UH Mānoa cost of attendance

2026–2027 undergraduate tuition

Official per-semester tuition and fees by resident, nonresident and WUE/Pacific Island status.

Open undergraduate tuition

UH Mānoa Common Data Set

Institutional reports and Common Data Set archive from Mānoa Institutional Research Office.

Open UH Mānoa reports

UH Mānoa fall 2026 academic calendar

Registration, payment, semester, add/drop and academic dates for admitted students.

Open fall 2026 calendar

UH Mānoa admissions contact

Admissions email and mailing address for transcript and document questions.

Open admissions contact details

FAQs about University of Hawaii acceptance rate 2026

What is the University of Hawaii acceptance rate for 2026?

For 2026 planning, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s latest official fall 2025 freshman snapshot shows an 88% admit rate, with 15,302 admits from 17,389 applicants.

Is University of Hawaii at Mānoa easy to get into?

UH Mānoa is accessible compared with highly selective universities, but not automatic. Applicants still need required courses, solid grades and complete materials.

What GPA do you need for UH Mānoa?

The admitted fall 2025 middle cumulative GPA range was 3.49–4.04. Hawaiʻi residents with at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA and completed course requirements are offered admission.

What SAT score is good for University of Hawaii?

UH Mānoa’s admitted fall 2025 middle SAT range was 1130–1350. Because the school is test optional, submit SAT only if it helps.

What ACT score is good for UH Mānoa?

UH Mānoa’s admitted fall 2025 middle ACT range was 21–29. Submit ACT only if it strengthens admission, scholarship or direct-entry review.

Is UH Mānoa test optional for 2026?

Yes. UH Mānoa is test optional and uses a Do No Harm policy, excluding submitted scores if they would hurt admission or scholarship consideration.

What are UH Mānoa application deadlines?

For fall, UH Mānoa lists January 5 as the priority deadline, April 1 as the final deadline and May 1 as the late application deadline.

What high school courses does UH Mānoa require?

UH Mānoa expects 4 units English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies, 4 other college-prep courses and 5 electives.

How much does UH Mānoa cost in 2026–2027?

For full-time undergraduates, UH Mānoa estimates Hawaiʻi resident total cost at $33,728 on campus and nonresident total cost at $55,760 on campus for 2026–2027.

How can I improve my University of Hawaii application?

Complete required courses, keep GPA close to or above the admitted middle range, apply by January 5, submit SAT/ACT only if helpful, and check whether your program has extra requirements.