{"id":239221,"date":"2026-08-19T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239221"},"modified":"2026-08-19T09:43:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T19:43:30","slug":"princeton-review-best-colleges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/19\/princeton-review-best-colleges\/","title":{"rendered":"Student feedback earns UH<\/abbr> Mānoa spot among nation\u2019s best colleges"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa<\/span><\/a> is one of the nation\u2019s best colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review<\/em>\u2019s 2027 edition of “The Best 392 Colleges<\/a>” guide, released on August 18.<\/p>\n

The rankings are based solely on its surveys of college students about their schools. The schools included in the “The Best 392 Colleges” of 2027 are not ranked from No<\/abbr>. 1–No<\/abbr>. 392, and feature the top 14% of approximately 2,800 four-year colleges in the U.S.<\/p>\n

In addition, The Princeton Review<\/em> placed UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> as one of the top 79 colleges in the west.<\/p>\n

“This recognition is a reflection of what our students experience every day at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>,” said UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “From the classroom to campus life, their feedback shows the value they see in their education, their professors and the opportunities available to them. We\u2019re proud that their voices are helping tell the story of what makes UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> a special place to learn and grow.”<\/p>\n

In October 2025, The Princeton Review<\/em> also named UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> one of the nation\u2019s top “green” colleges<\/a>, which recognizes the most environmentally responsible schools.<\/p>\n

More about ‘The Best 392 Colleges’<\/h2>\n

The Princeton Review<\/em> surveyed 172,000 students at the schools included in “The Best 392 Colleges.” The 98-question survey asked students about their professors, administrators, financial aid, campus amenities, school services and other aspects of their college experience. Students responded using five answer choices, with scales ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” and “excellent” to “poor.”<\/p>\n

“The colleges we profile in ‘The Best 392 Colleges’ vary by type, size, locale and campus culture. In our opinion, each one offers an academically outstanding undergraduate education,” said Rob Franek, lead author of the book and editor-in-chief at The Princeton Review<\/em>. “They are truly a select group: they comprise only about 14% of America’s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges. For 35 years, our goal for this project has been to create multiple ranking lists and resources to help college applicants answer what is likely the toughest but also the most important question in their journey to college: ‘Which college is best for me?’”<\/p>\n

‘The Best Colleges in America’<\/h2>\n

UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> and UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> were also recognized in Money\u2019s 2026 Best Colleges rankings<\/a>, which evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges nationwide. The rankings are designed to help students and families compare colleges based on the value they provide, with an emphasis on affordability and post-graduation outcomes. Money evaluated schools using 25 factors across three categories: quality of education, affordability and outcomes. Measures included graduation rates, net price, student debt, earnings, employment and economic mobility.<\/p>\n

Recent rankings<\/h2>\n

UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> also received these notable rankings:<\/p>\n