The Best Business Schools Near Honolulu for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools Near Honolulu
- University of San Francisco ranks #1 near Honolulu on a 90.4 Program Score, with a 70% graduation rate.
- Dominican University of California graduates the most students on this list (78%), from #2.
- The hardest to get into is Brigham Young University-Hawaii (#6), which admits 47% of applicants.
- Public and private schools split this list evenly.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, San Francisco State University, ranks #5.
- Programs analyzed in Honolulu
- 32
- Schools ranked
- 10
- Ranked schools in the metro
- 4
- Farthest school
- 2,401 mi
Only four business schools in Honolulu have a complete record in the federal data this site ranks on (University of Hawaii at Manoa, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and University of Hawaii-West Oahu), too few for a ranking of the metro alone. So this list looks past the metro: it keeps those four and adds the six closest schools that do have one, in California and Hawaii, for ten in all, scored on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes.
University of San Francisco leads with a 90.4 Program Score and a 70% graduation rate. The nearest school from beyond the metro is University of Hawaii at Hilo (Hilo, HI), about 217 miles from central Honolulu; the farthest, Menlo College (Atherton, CA), is about 2,401 miles away.
Business Schools Near Honolulu, Compared by Score
University of San Francisco leads at 90.4, and Hawaii-West Oahu closes the chart at 66.3. Longer bars rank higher.
Our Methodology for Ranking Business Schools Near Honolulu
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 10 Best Business Schools Near Honolulu, Ranked for 2027
The 10 best Business Schools Near Honolulu, ranked by outcomes.
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 62%
- In-state
- $59,950
- Out-of-state
- $59,950
University of San Francisco graduates 70% of its students, above the 58% average across this ranking, on a 90.4 Program Score.
- Program Score 90.4, #1 of 10
- 70% graduation rate
- $59,950 tuition
- Admits just 62% of applicants
University of San Francisco is a private, nonprofit institution in San Francisco, CA. Its Business program ranks #1 of the 10 analyzed here with a 90.4 Program Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 76.2 group average. The program graduates 70% of its students, above the 58% average across the ranked schools. University of San Francisco admits 62% of applicants, more selective than the 77% average for the group. That is more open than the 47% rate at Brigham Young-Hawaii, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 78%. The university enrolls 8,913 students overall.
On cost, University of San Francisco charges $59,950 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Francisco State to $59,950 at University of San Francisco. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 78%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state
- $51,316
- Out-of-state
- $51,316
Dominican University of California graduates 78% of its students, above the 58% average across this ranking, on an 84.1 Program Score.
- Program Score 84.1, #2 of 10
- 78% graduation rate
- $51,316 tuition
- Top graduation rate on this list
Dominican University of California is a private, nonprofit institution in San Rafael, CA. Its Business program ranks #2 of the 10 analyzed here with an 84.1 Program Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 76.2 group average, in the top third of the 10 ranked programs, 6.3 points behind top-ranked University of San Francisco. The program graduates 78% of its students, above the 58% average across the ranked schools. Dominican University of California admits 83% of applicants, less selective than the 77% average for the group. That is more open than the 47% rate at Brigham Young-Hawaii, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 78%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,900 students.
On cost, Dominican University of California charges $51,316 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Francisco State to $59,950 at University of San Francisco. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI · Public
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- In-state
- $11,304
- Out-of-state
- $33,336
University of Hawaii at Manoa's Shidler College of Business graduates 64% of students and charges in-state residents $22,032 less per year than the $33,336 out-of-state tuition.
- 64% graduation rate
- $11,304 in-state tuition
- $22,032 in-state savings vs. out-of-state
- 8 majors including accounting, finance, marketing
The Shidler College of Business at UH Manoa runs an upper-division BBA built in three parts: general education, business fundamentals, and a specialized major chosen from accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources management, international business, management, information technology management, or marketing, with double majors and minors available. Entry requires junior standing (60+ credit hours), a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and a set of pre-business courses, including ACC 200, ACC 210, and ECON 130, 131, completed with no grade below a C. High-achieving incoming freshmen can skip that wait through the Shidler Freshman Direct Admit Program, a merit-based track that admits students straight from their UH Manoa application with no separate paperwork and comes with an enrollment scholarship.
UH Manoa graduates 64% of its students and admits 87% of applicants, a relatively open front door that funnels into the more selective, GPA-gated business major itself. In-state tuition runs $11,304 a year against $33,336 out-of-state, a $22,032 gap that makes Hawaii residency the single biggest cost factor for this degree. With 20,028 students enrolled, it's the largest of the five programs with reported enrollment in this ranking and carries a Program Score of 78.1, the top score in this ranking.
Menlo College
Atherton, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 68%
- In-state
- $52,700
- Out-of-state
- $52,700
Menlo College ranks #4 of the 10 business programs in this analysis, with a 76.5 Program Score and a 54% graduation rate.
- Program Score 76.5, #4 of 10
- 54% graduation rate
- $52,700 tuition
- Smallest campus in this ranking
Based in Atherton, CA, Menlo College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #4 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 76.5 Program Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 76.2 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 54% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. Menlo College admits 68% of applicants, more selective than the 77% average for the group. That is more open than the 47% rate at Brigham Young-Hawaii, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 78%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 810 students.
On cost, Menlo College charges $52,700 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Francisco State to $59,950 at University of San Francisco. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 96%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, San Francisco State University is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding a 75.7 Program Score on a 50% graduation rate.
- Program Score 75.7, #5 of 10
- 50% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Lowest in-state tuition here
San Francisco State University is a public institution in San Francisco, CA. Its Business program ranks #5 of the 10 analyzed here with a 75.7 Program Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 76.2 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. San Francisco State admits 96% of applicants, less selective than the 77% average for the group. That is more open than the 47% rate at Brigham Young-Hawaii, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 78%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 22,563 students.
On cost, San Francisco State charges $6,084 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $18,684 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Francisco State to $59,950 at University of San Francisco. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Laie, HI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- 47%
- In-state
- $6,630
- Out-of-state
- $6,630
BYU-Hawaii admits just 47% of applicants and charges every student, in-state or not, the same $6,630 tuition for its Business Management degree.
- 47% admit rate, most selective of the five programs with admissions data
- $6,630 flat tuition, in state or out
- 53% graduation rate
- B- grade threshold to declare a concentration
BYU-Hawaii's BS in Business Management stacks 21 credits of business prerequisites (financial and managerial accounting, intro to business, micro- and macroeconomics, financial computing, statistics) onto 19 credits of business foundations covering finance, marketing management, principles of management, business communication, business law and ethics, and business analytics and operations. Students then pick a concentration, such as Economics (12 required credits plus an elective in economic development, money and banking, or international economics) or Finance (6 required credits plus three elective courses), and several concentrations set a hard bar: a B- or better in specific gateway courses like BUSM 301 or ECON 200 before a student can declare that track.
The school admits 47% of applicants, the most selective of the five Hawaii programs with reported admissions data here, and graduates 53% of students. Tuition is flat at $6,630 whether a student is a Hawaii resident or not, well under half of what UH Manoa charges out-of-state students and even below UH Hilo's in-state rate. Enrollment sits at 2,906, and the program carries a Program Score of 75.4, ranking third in our data. It fits students who want a concentration-based degree with grade-gated rigor at a fixed, low price regardless of home state.
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- Graduate only
- Admit rate
- Graduate only
- Tuition
- Varies by program
University of California-San Francisco ranks #7 of the 10 business programs in this analysis, with a 74.0 Program Score.
- Program Score 74.0, #7 of 10
- 3,007 students enrolled
University of California-San Francisco is a public institution in San Francisco, CA. Its Business program ranks #7 of the 10 analyzed here with a 74.0 Program Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 76.2 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,007 students.
It earns its place in the top 10 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, HI · Public
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 61%
- In-state
- $7,344
- Out-of-state
- $20,304
At $7,344 a year in-state, University of Hawaii at Hilo is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding a 73.6 Program Score on a 48% graduation rate.
- Program Score 73.6, #8 of 10
- 48% graduation rate
- $7,344 in-state vs $20,304 out-of-state
- Admits just 61% of applicants
Based in Hilo, HI, University of Hawaii at Hilo is a public institution. Its Business program lands at #8 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 73.6 Program Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 76.2 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. Hawaii at Hilo admits 61% of applicants, more selective than the 77% average for the group. That is more open than the 47% rate at Brigham Young-Hawaii, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 78%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,668 students.
On cost, Hawaii at Hilo charges $7,344 a year in-state, roughly 2.8x the $20,304 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Francisco State to $59,950 at University of San Francisco. The spread makes the program a clearer value for HI residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with genuine selectivity.
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, HI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- In-state
- $30,760
- Out-of-state
- $30,760
Chaminade admits 91% of applicants and anchors its business degree in a required senior capstone that puts students on real, often nonprofit, organizations rather than hypothetical case studies.
- 55% graduation rate
- 91% admit rate
- $30,760 flat tuition (same in-state or out)
- Hogan Entrepreneurial Program mentorship
Chaminade University of Honolulu's B.A. in Business Administration is built around individualized, hands-on learning rather than lecture-only instruction. The program requires a senior team field project, a capstone in which students apply the business models and knowledge from their coursework to a real organization, often a local nonprofit. Its Hogan Entrepreneurial Program pairs students with working business leaders in a weekly mentor-mentee relationship (open to any major, not just business), and service-learning projects run from freshman year through senior year. Pre-major coursework includes Foundations of Financial and Strategic Accounting, a Technology Certification Lab, and a data analytics course before students move into the core major requirements.
Chaminade admits 91% of applicants, a wide-open door for a private university, and graduates 55% of its students. Tuition runs a flat $30,760 a year regardless of residency, since the school is private nonprofit; there is no in-state discount to offset that cost. With 2,709 students enrolled campus-wide, Chaminade stays small, which shows up in the low student-to-faculty ratio and advising access the program cites. Its Program Score of 68.1 ranks it #5 among the business administration programs we evaluate in Hawaii for 2027, a reflection of its accessibility and hands-on capstone weighed against a moderate graduation rate and a tuition bill with no residency break. Nationally, management occupations carry a median salary of $105,770 a year per BLS data, context for the field rather than a Chaminade-specific outcome.
The program fits a student who wants a small Catholic Marianist university and a guaranteed mentor relationship through Hogan, and who is not counting on an in-state tuition discount to already be built in.
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Kapolei, HI · Public
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 95%
- In-state
- $7,344
- Out-of-state
- $20,304
University of Hawaii-West Oahu charges residents just $7,344 a year for its business administration degree, less than a third of the $20,304 nonresidents pay.
- 50% graduation rate
- 95% admit rate
- $7,344 in-state vs $20,304 out-of-state tuition
- in-class and distance learning formats
University of Hawaii-West Oahu's B.A. in Business Administration, General Business Administration concentration, prepares students for management roles in organizations from small businesses to multinationals. Coursework builds a foundation in business objectives and processes alongside the context around them: ethical and global issues, political, social, legal, regulatory, environmental and technological factors, and the effect of workforce diversity. The program is offered both in-class and through distance learning, so students can complete it without relocating to Kapolei. A student-run Business Club runs alongside the coursework, organizing community service projects, company tours and guest lectures from the local business community.
UH West Oahu admits 95% of applicants and graduates 50% of them, numbers that mark it as an accessible entry point rather than a selective one. The tuition gap is the real story: Hawaii residents pay $7,344 a year, while nonresidents pay $20,304, nearly triple. With 2,814 students enrolled, it is a similarly sized campus to Chaminade but public, which drives that in-state price advantage. Its Program Score of 66.3 ranks it #6 among Hawaii's business administration programs for 2027, just behind Chaminade on score but well ahead on cost for any Hawaii resident. The program's own page notes graduates go on to pursue an MBA or Master of Accountancy, positioning the degree as a launchpad rather than a terminal credential. Nationally, management occupations pay a median $105,770 a year per BLS data, the same field-wide benchmark regardless of which Hawaii program a graduate attends.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools Near Honolulu
The median school on this list graduates 54% of its students. The highest rates belong to Dominican University of California (78%) and University of San Francisco (70%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #2 Dominican University of California78% graduation rate
- #1 University of San Francisco70% graduation rate
- #3 University of Hawaii at Manoa64% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools Near Honolulu?
On this list, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Brigham Young University-Hawaii at 47%.
- #6 Brigham Young University-Hawaii47% admitted
- #8 University of Hawaii at Hilo61% admitted
- #1 University of San Francisco62% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Business Schools Near Honolulu
This list holds 5 public and 5 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 74.0 public and 76.5 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools Near Honolulu
Enrollment on this list runs from 810 at Menlo College to 22,563 at San Francisco State University. Of the 10, 2 enroll 20,000 students or more and 7 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools Near Honolulu Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of San FranciscoUniversity of San Francisco | $104,390 | $30,496 |
| #2 | Dominican University of CaliforniaDominican University of California | $88,913 | $35,567 |
| #3 | University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaii at Manoa | $62,119 | $11,122 |
| #4 | Menlo CollegeMenlo College | $74,930 | $32,324 |
| #5 | San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State | $73,775 | $9,803 |
| #7 | University of California-San FranciscoCalifornia-San Francisco | $192,159 | |
| #8 | University of Hawaii at HiloHawaii at Hilo | $54,330 | $10,599 |
| #9 | Chaminade University of HonoluluChaminade University of Honolulu | $56,778 | $24,793 |
| #10 | University of Hawaii-West OahuHawaii-West Oahu | $56,227 | $8,144 |
Graduates of California-San Francisco earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $192,159; the lowest figure here is $54,330 at Hawaii at Hilo.
University of San Francisco, the highest-ranked of these schools (#1), comes in at $104,390.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $8,144 a year at Hawaii-West Oahu to $35,567 at Dominican University of California.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
How Far the Business Schools Near Honolulu Are
Distances are straight-line miles from central Honolulu, measured from the average location of Honolulu's business schools in federal records, so the drive is longer. University of Hawaii at Hilo in Hilo, HI is about 217 miles away; San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA is about 2,391 miles away; University of California-San Francisco in San Francisco, CA is about 2,393 miles away; University of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA is about 2,394 miles away; Dominican University of California in San Rafael, CA is about 2,395 miles away; Menlo College in Atherton, CA is about 2,401 miles away.
For a residential degree the distance matters less than residency: a public school across the metro charges Honolulu students its out-of-state rate unless a regional exchange applies, so read the out-of-state column on each card before comparing prices.
What the Business Schools Near Honolulu Cost
Undergraduate in-state tuition on this list runs from $6,084 a year at San Francisco State University to $59,950 at University of San Francisco, before aid. Over a four-year bachelor's that is roughly $24,336 against $239,800 in tuition alone.
Master's rows show no price: the federal tuition figure for those schools is the undergraduate rate, so ask each graduate business office for its per-credit rate instead.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Studying Business Online From Honolulu
None of the ranked schools lists a confirmed online option. Accredited online programs elsewhere carry the same standing as campus degrees, so a student in Honolulu who cannot relocate should compare the national online business rankings as well.
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Common Questions About Business Schools Near Honolulu
What is the best business school near Honolulu?
By Program Score, University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) ranks first, with a 90.4 score. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes from federal data, so it rewards a school that does all four well rather than one that wins on price alone.
How many business programs are there in Honolulu?
32 accredited bachelor's and master's business programs in Honolulu report to IPEDS. Four schools have the complete record needed to rank, which is why this list adds the nearest schools beyond the metro.
What is the closest ranked business school to Honolulu?
Outside Honolulu, University of Hawaii at Hilo (Hilo, HI) is the nearest school with a complete record, about 217 straight-line miles from central Honolulu. Inside Honolulu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and University of Hawaii-West Oahu are ranked on this list as well.
Can I study business online from Honolulu?
None of the schools on this list confirms an online option, but accredited online programs from other states carry the same standing as campus degrees. See the online business rankings.