Overview

Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) is a private, nonprofit university with approximately 8,200 students. HPU is rated one of the most culturally diverse universities in America with students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries. Founded in 1965, HPU prides itself on maintaining strong academic programs, small class sizes, individual attention to students, and a diverse faculty and student population. HPU is recognized as a "Best in the West" college by Princeton Review and a "Best Buy" by Barron's business magazine. Bloomberg Businessweek also rates HPU as the “Best Undergraduate Return on Investment” among any Hawaii college or university. HPU offers more than 50 acclaimed undergraduate programs and 14 distinguished graduate programs.

Hawai‘i Pacific combines the excitement of an urban, downtown campus with the serenity of a traditional campus on the southeastern side of the island. The main campus is located in downtown Honolulu, the business and financial center of the Pacific ,and is home to the College of Business Administration and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Hawai'i Loa campus is eight miles away at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains, and is the site of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the College of Natural and Computational Sciences. HPU is also affiliated with the Oceanic Institute, an applied aquaculture research facility located on a 56-acre site. The Oceanic Institute is a global center for research and education in marine environmental and life sciences.

The diversity of the HPU student body stimulates learning about other cultures firsthand, both inside and outside of the classroom. There is no majority population at HPU. Students are encouraged to examine the values, customs, traditions, and principles of others to gain a clearer understanding of their own perspectives. HPU students develop friendships with students from throughout the United States and the world and form important connections for success in the global economy of the twenty-first century.

For International Students

Hawai‘i Pacific University has an International Center (IC) that serves as an ongoing resource and support center to international students. The IC Admission Counselors help facilitate international students' transition to the U.S. and HPU. IC International Student Advisors are ready to assist with application procedures, visa issues, and work authorization. IC staff are dedicated to meeting international students needs and speak a total of 12 languages. The IC also assists the Council of Countries, one of the largest and most active clubs on campus. Every year, the Council of Countries holds Intercultural Day. This event includes a parade, country booths, and performances by various student groups, attracting thousands of students, faculty and staff members, as well as members of the Honolulu community.

Highlights

• Accreditation: Hawai‘i Pacific University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• A vast majority of the faculty hold the doctorate degree or its equivalent and the student/teacher ratio is 15:1.
• The average class size at Hawai‘i Pacific University is less than 25.
• The academic year operates on a semester system, with regular Fall (September - December) and Spring (January - May) semesters, as well as shorter sessions including one winter (December - January) and three summer sessions (May - August).
• First Year Programs offers new student orientation at the start of every fall and spring semester so that new degree seeking and study abroad students can take a campus tour and attend social events with other new students.
• HPU's Housing Office helps new students find accommodations on campus (Residence Halls) and off campus (through independent property management companies).
• HPU services also include academic and personal counseling, free tutoring, and free airport transportation service.
• HPU students can join one of the more than 50 student clubs; run for office in the HPU Student Government Association; participate in Army or Air Force ROTC; write for the student newspaper, Kalamalama; edit the school's literary journal, Hawai'i Pacific Review; or join HPU's stage and pep band or International Choral program.
• Scholarships are available for international students.
• Regular tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year is $18,500 for most majors. Tuition for the Marine Science program is $19,400 and for students in their final two years of the Nursing program, tuition is $24,900.
• Admissions tests:
  • TOEFL: Required. (Minimum score: 550 paper based, 213 computer based and TWE of 5.0, or 80 internet based and writing score of 25)
  • IELTS: Option instead of TOEFL. (Minimum score: 6 and writing score of 6.5)
  • SAT/ACT: Option instead of TOEFL.
  • ELS: Option instead of TOEFL. (Minimum: Certificate of completion of level 112)
  • Note: While the ELS equivalent for students to attend HPU is completion of level 112, students enrolled in ELS levels 110, 111 or 112 at HPU may concurrently enroll in courses at HPU.