RN Programs in Hawaii
Ranked RN and BSN Programs in Hawaii
After evaluating 1,209 ADN, 794 BSN, 2,022 campus and 383 online RN programs, we ranked RN programs against criteria nurses found to be most valuable. We spent $27,700 on this unique list that has helped tens-of-thousands of nurses apply to the right program for their career goals. Find NCLEX passing scores, tuition rates, nursing program accreditation, institution accreditation and more. Explore our RN-ADN and RN-BSN rankings for Hawaii in the listings below.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.
![[state_name] Best Ranked RN Programs in by RNCareers.org](https://i2.wp.com/rncareers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/logo_head.png?w=1080&ssl=1 "[state_name] Best Ranked RN Programs in by RNCareers.org"){kind=logo}
Ranked Schools : 4
Evaluated Schools : 4
RN 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.
RANKED 1
![Kapiolani Community College RN Programs in HI [state_name]](https://i2.wp.com/rncareers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/template1.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1 "Kapiolani Community College RN Programs in HI [state_name]")
ADN
Overall Score: 88.75%
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.
- Campus: Honolulu, HI
- Net Price: $4,704.00
- Enrollment: 8,376
- Transfer Out Rate: 28.60%
- Loan Default Rate: 15.80%
- Institution Accreditation: ACCJC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 15.41%
- Graduation Rate: 15.20%
- Median Borrowing: $5,820.00
- Median Payment: $60.77
- Award Levels: Associate
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED 2
![Hawaii Community College RN Programs in HI [state_name]](https://www.rncareers.org/wp-content/uploads/cds_screenshots/383190_sc.jpg "Hawaii Community College RN Programs in HI [state_name]")
ADN
Overall Score: 78.47%
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.
- Campus: Hilo, HI
- Net Price: $8,623.00
- Enrollment: 3,406
- Transfer Out Rate: 13.50%
- Loan Default Rate: 23.90%
- Institution Accreditation: ACCJC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 20.23%
- Graduation Rate: 19.40%
- Median Borrowing: $6,847.00
- Median Payment: $71.49
- Award Levels: Associate
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED 3
ADN
Overall Score: 76.84%
University of Hawaii Maui College
- 310 Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI - 96732-1643
- (808) 984-3500
- Campus: Kahului, HI
- Net Price: $6,649.00
- Enrollment: 4,076
- Transfer Out Rate: 27.50%
- Loan Default Rate: 26.30%
- Institution Accreditation:
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: -0.38%
- Graduation Rate: 11.40%
- Median Borrowing: $9,589.00
- Median Payment: $100.12
- Award Levels: Associate
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED 4
ADN
Overall Score: 75.11%
Kauai Community College
- 3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI - 96766-9591
- (808) 245-8311
- Campus: Lihue, HI
- Net Price: $5,877.00
- Enrollment: 1,530
- Transfer Out Rate: 18.90%
- Loan Default Rate: 21.20%
- Institution Accreditation: ACCJC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 31.83%
- Graduation Rate: 16.00%
- Median Borrowing: $4,500.00
- Median Payment: $46.99
- Award Levels: Associate
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
Data sources: IPEDS, National Center of Educational Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 2,401 Nursing Schools, 50 State Boards of Nursing, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
See our methodology for ranking ADN and BSN programs.
Find RN Programs in Hawaii | BSN Programs in Hawaii | RN Programs in the United States | LPN to RN Program Guide: LPN to RN Guide | LPN to BSN Program Guide: LPN to BSN Program Guide | RN to BSN Program Guide RN to BSN Program Guide | RN Jobs RN Jobs
Hawaii Licensing Requirements
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.
Helpful Nursing Resources
![[state_name] Best Ranked RN and BSN Programs in by RNCareers.org](https://i0.wp.com/rncareers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BSNseal-1.png?w=1080&ssl=1 "[state_name] Best Ranked RN and BSN Programs in by RNCareers.org")
Ranked Schools : 4
Evaluated Schools : 4
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
RANKED 1
BSN
Overall Score: 85.36%
University of Hawaii at Manoa
- 2500 Campus Road, Hawaii Hall, Honolulu, HI - 96822-2217
- (808) 956-8975
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.
- Campus: Honolulu, HI
- Net Price: $11,345.00
- Enrollment: 14,499
- Loan Default Rate: 5.10%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 8.21%
- Graduation Rate: 56.50%
- Median Borrowing: $17,962.00
- Median Payment: $187.54
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 2
BSN
Overall Score: 83.73%
University of Hawaii at Hilo
- 200 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI - 96720-4091
- (808) 974-7311
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.
- Campus: Hilo, HI
- Net Price: $9,340.00
- Enrollment: 3,457
- Loan Default Rate: 9.70%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 15.61%
- Graduation Rate: 36.40%
- Median Borrowing: $12,500.00
- Median Payment: $130.51
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 3
BSN
Overall Score: 76.11%
University of Phoenix-Hawaii Campus
- 745 Fort Street, Honolulu, HI - 96813-3800
- (866) 766-0766
- Campus: Honolulu, HI
- Net Price: $19,752.00
- Enrollment: 1,281
- Loan Default Rate: 19.00%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Private For-Profit
- Net Price Change: -10.39%
- Graduation Rate: 21.80%
- Median Borrowing: $17,476.00
- Median Payment: $182.47
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) :
RANKED 4
BSN
Overall Score: 73.87%
Hawaii Pacific University
- 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800, Honolulu, HI - 96813
- (808) 544-0200
- Campus: Honolulu, HI
- Net Price: $22,217.00
- Enrollment: 5,582
- Loan Default Rate: 4.40%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Net Price Change: 19.63%
- Graduation Rate: 39.60%
- Median Borrowing: $19,124.00
- Median Payment: $199.68
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
Data sources: IPEDS, National Center of Educational Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 2,401 Nursing Schools, 50 State Boards of Nursing, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
See our methodology for ranking ADN and BSN programs.
Find RN Programs in Hawaii | BSN Programs in Hawaii | RN Programs in the United States | LPN to RN Program Guide: LPN to RN Guide | LPN to BSN Program Guide: LPN to BSN Program Guide | RN to BSN Program Guide RN to BSN Program Guide | RN Jobs RN Jobs
Hawaii Licensing Requirements
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.
Helpful Nursing Resources
Hawaii Job Outlook
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 Nursing Jobs
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