{"id":223082,"date":"2025-10-05T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T19:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=223082"},"modified":"2025-10-03T16:20:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T02:20:53","slug":"uh-enrollment-tops-51000-highest-in-eight-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/05\/uh-enrollment-tops-51000-highest-in-eight-years\/","title":{"rendered":"<abbr>UH<\/abbr> enrollment tops 51,000, highest in eight years"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/uh-student-gnrc.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-223140\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Enrollment across the 10 campuses of the University of <span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> reached 51,411 students in fall 2025, a 2&#37; increase from last fall and the highest enrollment since 2017. This marks the third consecutive year of growth for <span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> sole provider of public higher education and a 5.1&#37; increase since fall 2023, reversing earlier declines and building momentum across both four-year and two-year campuses.<\/p>\n<p><strong><abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">UH<\/abbr> fall 2025 enrollment<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> 10 campus system: 51,411 (&#43;2.0&#37; from fall 2024)<\/li>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa: 20,404 (&#43;1.9&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo: 2,649 (\u22120.7&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span lang=\"haw\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>:  2,897 (&#43;2.9&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges: 25,461 (&#43;2.2&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> <abbr title=\"Community College\">CC<\/abbr>: 2,489 (&#43;8.7&#37;)<\/li>\n<li>Honolulu <abbr>CC<\/abbr>: 3,628 (&#43;8.6&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"haw\">Kapi&#699;olani<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>: 5,704 (\u22123.6&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"haw\">Kaua&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>: 1,324 (\u22120.8&#37;)<\/li>\n<li>Leeward <abbr>CC<\/abbr>: 6,210 (\u22124.0&#37;)<\/li>\n<li><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Maui College: 2,997 (&#43;7.3&#37;)<\/li>\n<li>Windward <abbr>CC<\/abbr>: 3,109 (&#43;12.4&#37;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Enrollment gains were driven by increases in first-time freshmen across the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> System (up 2.1&#37;), record participation in programs allowing high school students to earn college and\/or high school credit (up 6.9&#37; from fall 2024), and rising undergraduate home-based enrollment at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> 4-year campuses.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-1-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"U H Manoa students sitting in a classroom\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-203519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-1-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-1.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Enrollment is one of the strongest indicators of confidence in the value of higher education and our 10 campus system,&rdquo; said <abbr>UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel. &ldquo;I am proud that more <span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> students are choosing to pursue their degrees with us. This momentum is critical to preparing the state\u2019s future workforce and ensuring opportunities for every student.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hensel acknowledged challenges that remain, including a 3.5&#37; decline in undergraduate transfer enrollment. She emphasized that <abbr>UH<\/abbr> is prioritizing systemwide solutions to improve the student experience.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Addressing transfer barriers is one of our top priorities,&rdquo; said Hensel. &ldquo;For example, we are working to ensure that online programs available at our community colleges are aligned with online bachelors at our four-year campuses. I am especially excited about our adoption of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/18\/new-technology-systemwide-student-support\/\"><abbr>EAB<\/abbr> Navigate360<\/a> and <abbr>EAB<\/abbr> Edify, which will be fully in place next year. These tools will give students the support they need, often before they even realize they need it, to ensure they reach their educational goals.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/18\/new-technology-systemwide-student-support\/\">technology platforms<\/a> use predictive analytics built on historical and current student data to proactively alert faculty, advisors and staff at the earliest signs a student may be at risk. The goal is to deliver timely support when it can make the most difference, helping students stay on track, succeed in their studies and graduate.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-300x169.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-203796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-300x169.gif 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/manoa-student-gnrc-2024-130x73.gif 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa continues to grow<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa grew for the third consecutive year, enrolling 20,404 students (&#43;1.9&#37; from fall 2024), and has now increased enrollment in five of the past six years. The flagship campus set a record for degree-seeking first-time freshmen, up 6.2&#37; from fall 2024 to 3,294 students.<\/p>\n<p>This marks the fourth straight year <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa has welcomed more than 3,000 freshmen, helping drive overall home-based undergraduate enrollment to 15,610 students (&#43;2.1&#37;).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/west-oahu-students-gnrc-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"students sitting in the library\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-210401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/west-oahu-students-gnrc-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/west-oahu-students-gnrc-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/west-oahu-students-gnrc.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong><abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span lang=\"haw\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> rebounds<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span lang=\"haw\">O&#699;ahu<\/span> posted its first enrollment increase since 2020, rising 2.9&#37; from fall 2024 to 2,897 students, while first-time freshmen increased 5.9&#37; to 251 students.<\/p>\n<p>The campus also saw strong growth in transfer students, which climbed 7.2&#37; to 520 students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_110042\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-110042\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hilo-students-gnrc-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling U H Hilo students\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-110042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hilo-students-gnrc-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hilo-students-gnrc-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hilo-students-gnrc-630x353.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hilo-students-gnrc.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-110042\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: Raiatea Arcuri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo leads in first-time freshmen growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo recorded the system\u2019s largest percent gain in first-time freshmen, up 16.3&#37; to 400 students. That growth helped stabilize home-based undergraduate enrollment to 2,278  students.<\/p>\n<p>Overall enrollment at the <span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island campus dipped slightly (\u22120.7&#37;), totaling 2,649 students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_216024\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216024\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/windward-vet-tech-1-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"dog licking vet tech&#039;s face\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-216024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/windward-vet-tech-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/windward-vet-tech-1-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/windward-vet-tech-1.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-216024\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Windward <abbr>CC<\/abbr> led the way with a 12.4&#37; increase.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Community Colleges continue momentum<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Enrollment at the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges rose to 25,461 students (&#43;2.2&#37;) in fall 2025, with several campuses posting strong gains. Windward <abbr>CC<\/abbr> led the way with a 12.4&#37; increase. <span lang=\"haw\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (&#43;8.7&#37;), Honolulu <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (&#43;8.6&#37;) and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Maui College (&#43;7.3&#37;) also recorded significant increases, while Leeward <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (\u22124.0&#37;), <span lang=\"haw\">Kapi&#699;olani<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (\u22123.6&#37;) and <span lang=\"haw\">Kaua&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (\u22120.8&#37;) experienced modest declines.<\/p>\n<p>The Early Admit program reached another all-time high, with 4,030 high school students enrolled at a Community College campus (&#43;8.4&#37;). Five of the seven campuses saw increases, led by Windward <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (&#43;39.7&#37;, totaling 753 students), <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Maui College (&#43;10.1&#37;, 777 students) and Honolulu <abbr>CC<\/abbr> (&#43;9.0&#37;, 364 students).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enrollment across <abbr>UH<\/abbr> reached 51,411 students in fall 2025, a 2&#37; increase from last fall and the highest enrollment since 2017.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":130222,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[962,61,62,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-223082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-enrollment","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/manoa-students-admissions-grnc-2020-3.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223082"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223084,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223082\/revisions\/223084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}