National report ranks University of Hawaiʻi 2-year colleges among best for affordability

University of Hawaiʻi community colleges are national leaders in economic mobility and student support, according to the 2025 State Opportunity Index.

The newly released findings reveal that the university’s 2-year institutions are leading in affordability, providing students with one of the most accessible paths to a degree in the United States.

“The 2025 State Opportunity Index affirms that the [University of Hawaiʻi] Community College System is delivering on our commitment to the people of Hawaiʻi,” said University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges Interim Vice President Lui Hokoana in a release about the accolade. “Our leading national ranking in affordability, coupled with other strong metrics proves we are providing an accessible, high-value path to a degree and a strong career.”

Hokoana added that it is a testament to the dedication of the entire community college system to preparing local talent to meet the needs of Hawaiʻi’s workforce.

The State Opportunity Index was produced by nonprofit Strada Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to better connecting education to work, and research and consulting firm Trellis Strategies.

Its aim is to evaluate the positive return on investment for people who complete college degrees, and 2025 is the first year to reflect data from an extensive survey facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi System of student perceptions and experiences with career preparation throughout their degree program.

Representatives from Strada Education Foundation and Trellis Strategies presented these results in December 2025 to University of Hawaiʻi Workforce Learning Community.

“[University of Hawaiʻi’s] efforts on the policy, the state data infrastructure, the way you work as a system; you’re very strong and very present and make great efforts to be a part of the national dialogue and to contribute and to lead,” said Strada Education Foundation Senior Vice President of Research David Clayton in the release.

The university’s commitment to keeping education within reach is most evident at its community colleges, which received a “Leading” rating for affordability, with the index finding that the average 2-year student in Hawaiʻi needs to work only 9 hours per week to cover the net price of attendance, while low-income students require just 6 hours per week.

Both metrics at the forefront of national rankings.

University of Hawaiʻi also excels in employer alignment within key high-growth sectors. The report rated the state as “Leading” in aligning its educational supply with workforce demand for software development and engineering, and data analytics.

The state also earned “Advanced” ratings for its alignment in information and cybersecurity, and engineering.

This excellence is supported by the state’s “Advanced” rating in clear outcomes because of robust data systems that link post-secondary training directly to employment outcomes.

“The results of the State Opportunity Index show that we have some work to do to increase the availability of paid internships and career coaching for our students, but that our collaborative efforts to align programs with career opportunities in Hawaiʻi are on the right track,” said University of Hawaiʻi Director of Workforce Development Christine Beaule in the release.