UH fall enrollment tops 50K for 3rd straight year
from UH News, October 22, 2026
Enrollment across the University of Hawaiʻi‘s 10-campus system stands at 50,617 students in fall 2026, marking the third consecutive year above 50,000. Enrollment decreased 2% from fall 2025, a decline of 795 students.
Fall 2026 UH enrollment by campus
UH 10-campus system: 50,617 (-2% from fall 2025)
- UH Mānoa: 20,061 (-2%)
- UH Hilo: 2,619 (-1%)
- UH West Oʻahu: 2,892 (essentially unchanged)
UH Community Colleges: 25,045 (-2%)
- Hawaiʻi CC: 2,426 (-3%)
- Honolulu CC: 3,642 (essentially unchanged)
- Kapiʻolani CC: 5,447 (-5%)
- Kauaʻi CC: 1,338 (+1%)
- Leeward CC: 6,231 (essentially unchanged)
- UH Maui College: 2,890 (-4%)
- Windward CC: 3,071 (-1%)
“Our focus is on expanding access to higher education while strengthening support for current students to help them succeed and complete their degrees and certificates on time,” UH President Wendy Hensel said. “We are taking a more coordinated approach across our 10 campuses to create more opportunities and clearer pathways to higher education for Hawaiʻi‘s high school graduates, transfer students, working adults and others who can benefit from a UH education.”
Enrollment trends
Continuing enrollment increased 1% to 28,191 students systemwide, while enrollment among students ages 18–24 remained essentially unchanged. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of UH students are taking at least one online course, cross-campus enrollment has increased 22% over five years to 6,282 students, and early admits—high school students taking college courses—have increased 18% to 4,289.
First-time freshman enrollment totaled 7,279 students, down 3%; however, first-time freshman enrollment at the seven community colleges remained essentially unchanged. While entering transfer enrollment declined 9% overall, UH Hilo and UH Maui College recorded graduate and undergraduate transfer enrollment increases of 19% and 22%, respectively. UH is strengthening transfer pathways across its campuses, supported by initiatives such as the NEXT STEP Scholarship program, which awarded $586,000 to 331 students as of September 14.
Enrollment across the UH system has grown 5% since fall 2022, when 48,373 students were enrolled. Leading that growth were Windward Community College (+29%), Honolulu CC (+19%), UH Maui College (+17%) and Hawaiʻi CC (+14%).
Community colleges serve thousands beyond credit enrollment
The official enrollment count does not capture the full reach of the UH Community Colleges, which served 11,417 non-credit students in fiscal year 2026, a 4% increase from fiscal year 2022. Career and technical education enrollment totaled 6,038 students this fall.
From July through October, nearly 5,000 unique students enrolled in non-credit courses, accounting for 7,708 course registrations. Approximately 63% participated in workforce training programs that help residents develop skills and prepare for employment and career advancement. Non-credit students are not included in the official fall enrollment count.
Expanding access and student success
UH is taking a more coordinated approach to enrollment across its 10 campuses, including plans to hire a senior advisor to oversee systemwide enrollment management and expanded use of Salesforce technology to strengthen recruitment and marketing.
Direct2UH, which provides proactive admission to eligible Hawaiʻi public high school seniors, generated approximately 2,100 enrolled students during the 2026 recruitment cycle, according to preliminary estimates. The program has expanded to include UH Mānoa and 13 public charter schools, bringing all 10 campuses into the initiative. UH also launched ApplyHawaiʻi in October, providing a single undergraduate application for all 10 campuses.
Other priorities include expanding online degree programs and shorter, stackable credentials, improving transfer pathways, and strengthening advising and student support through EAB Navigate360 and a Common Standard of Care. These efforts are supported by $123 million in one-time strategic investments across all 10 campuses.
The fall enrollment figures are based on UH‘s official enrollment count 35 days after the first day of instruction. Detailed fall 2026 enrollment reports are available at data.hawaii.edu.