RN Programs in Hawaii
An educated nurse is one of the biggest key players in the healthcare team. The nursing field is constantly evolving with healthcare reforms and medical technology. There are a few programs offered on the islands of Hilo and Honolulu. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of on-campus programs in the state so distance learning is becoming a more popular option for nursing students. According to the American Associate of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there are more than 390 RN to Baccalaureate programs offered online. All of the programs are intended to broaden the scope of nursing practice by building on the education you already received in your diploma or associate degree program.
In our Hawaii RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Hawaii RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.
In the State of Hawaii, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Hawaii RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 4 | 4 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 81.00% | 80.18% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 76.73% to 89.15% | 73.33% to 86.45% |
| Average Net Price | $6,463.25 | $15,663.50 |
| Average Net Price Range | $4,704.00 to $8,623.00 | $9,340.00 to $22,217.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $6,689.00 | $16,765.50 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $4,500.00 to $9,589.00 | $12,500.00 to $19,124.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Hawaii State | BSN Rankings for Hawaii State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Hawaii
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Hawaii and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 4 ADN degree programs and 4 BSN degree programs in Hawaii. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Hawaii to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
RANKED 1
Kapiolani Community College
- 4303 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI - 96816-4496
- (808) 734-9000
Kapiolani Community College is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their motto is “Kulia I Ka Nu’u – Strive for the Highest.” They offer a practical nursing program, an RN program and a transition for LPN program. The transition program is designed for LPNs who are seeking an RN license.
School Information
Location: Honolulu, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 89.67%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 305
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 2
Hawaii Community College
- 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI - 96720-4075
- (808) 934-2500
The Division of Nursing and Allied Health offers two separate nursing programs: the Certificate of Achievement in Practical Nursing leading to licensed practical nursing and the Associate of Science in Nursing leading to registered nursing. Adult Residential Care Home Operator classes are also offered. Upon completing the prescribed ARCH coursework, students will be eligible for licensure by the State Department of Health as an Adult Residential Care Home Operator.
School Information
Location: Hilo, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 85.97%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 453
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 3
University of Hawaii Maui College
- 310 Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI - 96732-1643
- (808) 984-3500
School Information
Location: Kahului, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 74.27%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 665
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 4
Kauai Community College
- 3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI - 96766-9591
- (808) 245-8225
School Information
Location: Lihue, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 72.12%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 683
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
ADN Programs In Hawaii
Hawaii is a diversified state, meaning that its nursing programs focus on diversity as well - caring for a variety of different patient populations. RN programs in Hawaii are offered at a variety of community colleges, with bridge programs available, allowing an LPN to become an RN.
NCLEX Passing Rates for Hawaii ADN Programs
Kapiolani Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Hawaii of 89.15%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $4,704.00 a year.
- ADN Programs Offered in Hawaii: 4
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 81.00%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 76.73% to 89.15%
How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Hawaii?
We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Hawaii so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.
When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
The lowest cost ADN program in Hawaii is offered by Kapiolani Community College at about $4,704.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 89.15%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by Hawaii Community College and it will cost about $8,623.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 80.89%.
- Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inHawaii: $6,463.25
- Net-Price Range for Hawaii ADN Programs: $4,704.00 to $8,623.00
Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Hawaii Schools: $6,689.00
- Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Hawaii: $4,500.00 to $9,589.00
RANKED 1
University of Hawaii at Manoa
- 2500 Campus Road, Hawaii Hall, Honolulu, HI - 96822-2217
- (808) 956-8111
University of Hawaii at Manoa is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their nursing department offers many options for its nursing students. They offer a general BSN degree. They also offer a high school direct entry option, which allows an incoming freshmen entrance into the program. There are also a variety of RN to BSN options; there is a specific RN to BSN program for those entering from certain community colleges. There is also a generic RN to BSN program and a RN to BSN program for those RNs with more than two years of nursing experience.
School Information
Location: Honolulu, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Hybrid, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 85.86%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 357
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree, BSN to DNP, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 2
University of Hawaii at Hilo
- 200 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI - 96720-4091
- (808) 932-7446
University of Hawaii at Hilo is located in Hilo, Hawaii. Their nursing department offers a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program is offered mostly online with the exception of the clinical component. They also have a DNP program. The DNP program has a BSN to DNP option.
School Information
Location: Hilo, HI- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Hybrid
NCLEX
Overall Score: 81.13%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 438
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree, BSN to DNP, MSN to DNP
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 3
University of Phoenix-Hawaii Campus
- 745 Fort Street, Honolulu, HI - 96813-3800
- (866) 766-0766
School Information
Location: Honolulu, HI- Type: Private For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 72.33%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 484
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
RANKED 4
Hawaii Pacific University
- 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800, Honolulu, HI - 96813
- (808) 544-0200
School Information
Location: Honolulu, HI- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 70.30%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 492
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: APRN Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
BSN Programs In Hawaii
Bachelor’s programs are strong in the liberal arts and sciences, which are important to nurses who practice in Hawaii, a very multicultural state. It is important to remember important considerations such as: accreditation status, transfer of credits, student services, accessibility of instructors, tuition, and financial aid when selecting a BSN program. Some of the most common courses offered in a BSN program in Hawaii are:
- Multicultural Care and Health Promotion
- Adult Health Care II
- Mental Health Care
- Nursing Research
- Community Health Care
- Collaborative Health Care Leadership and Management
- Professional Nursing Issues & Trends
- Nursing Review with Practicum
NCLEX Passing Rates for Hawaii BSN Programs
University of Hawaii at Manoa wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Hawaii with a score of 86.45%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $11,345.00 a year.
- BSN Programs Offered in Hawaii: 4
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 80.18%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 73.33% to 86.45%
How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Hawaii?
We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Hawaii to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.
The lowest cost BSN degree program in Hawaii is offered by University of Hawaii at Hilo and will cost you about $9,340.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 83.48%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Hawaii Pacific University and will cost you about $22,217.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 73.33%.
- Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Hawaii: $15,663.50
- Net-Price Range for Hawaii BSN Programs: $9,340.00 to $22,217.00
Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Hawaii Schools: $16,765.50
- Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Hawaii: $12,500.00 to $19,124.00
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Hawaii
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Hawaii
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Hawaii offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
Hawaii RN Licensing Requirements
Hawaii State Board of Nursing
King Kalakaua Building
335 Merchant Street, Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-3000
Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $40
License renewal (every two years), RN: $160
Continuing Education Requirements:
None
It is recommended that an RN candidate should enroll in a professional nursing program that is nationally accredited or state approved. There are five BSN programs within Hawaii: three in Honolulu, one in Hilo, and one in Kaneohe. Programs that have been completed in the armed forces are not usually found to be equivalent to RN programs.
RN Licensure by Exam
The state of Hawaii has strict guidelines for RNs to meet in order to gain licensure. In addition to completing the NCLEX exam (which costs $200 to take and cannot be completed until the candidate has received Authorization to Test), the candidate must also submit the following:
- Verification of educational requirements
- $40 for the application fee
It is worth noting that a candidate may retake an exam but it has to be done within two years of completing the application. The exam is the second to last step in the licensing process with the last step being paying the licensing fee.
RN Licensure by Endorsement
Candidates who completed a program in one of the other 50 states may be able to obtain licensure by endorsement. They will need to provide license verification through an official document
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
International candidates are required to have equivalency evaluated through the CGFNP. They are also responsible for the NCLEX, with the exception of some Canadian nurses who took the SBTPE.
RN Salaries in Hawaii
It is a fact that a highly educated nurse has the ability to provide safer and more effective patient care. Hawaii was chosen as a recipient of the Robert Wood Johns Foundation Academic Progression in nursing grant in 2012. It was a $300,000 grant that was used to create strategies that led to highly educated and diverse nursing population. There is a wide selection of jobs available in the nursing market of Hawaii that are based on your educational level. The Department of Health in Hawaii also has a variety of specialized nursing positions, which are perfect for a nurse with a Bachelor’s degree and they include:
- Public Health Nursing
- Genetics
- Immunizations
- Emergency Medical Services
- Early Intervention for at Risk Children and Families
- Rural Health
Hawaii Registered Nursing Salaries
Honolulu has both more nursing opportunities and higher wages than the non-metropolitan areas of Hawaii like Maui and Kauai. Yet, both areas offer very high salaries for RNs compared to the continental United States.
| Area name | Employment | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 8,200 | $44.61 | $92,790 |
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 2,450 | $40.75 | $84,750 |
Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Popular Nursing Careers: Clinical Nurse Specialist | Clinical Nurse Leader | Family Nurse Practitioner | Nurse Informatics | Nurse Executive | Nurse Educator | Adult Gerontology Nursing Specialties: Nursing Specialties | Salary Guides: RN Salary | LPN Salary | CRNA Salary
