Honolulu’s thriving economy, gorgeous beaches and dynamic cultures are some of the reasons why so many desire to live, work and play in the Aloha State. Another reason to love living in Honolulu? The city’s great options for higher education institutions. Here’s a rundown of some of the universities that call Honolulu home.

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Located in Honolulu’s beautiful neighborhood of Manoa which is three miles from downtown Honolulu and one mile from Ala Moana and Waikiki, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is known for many great things, especially for being the largest and oldest of the 10 UH campuses. It offers hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees – with recognized strengths in tropical agriculture, tropical medicine, oceanography and more. The university’s low tuition fees, diverse student population and nationally ranked athletics division are some of the many reasons why locals and those from the mainland choose to pursue their studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Hawaii Pacific University
With students from all 50 states and 65 countries, Hawaii Pacific University is one of the most culturally diverse universities in the world. The school has a downtown and Kaneohe campus and an Oceanic Institute – an aquaculture research facility, that borders the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The school’s top academic programs are in Business Administration, Nursing, Biology, Diplomacy and Military Studies and Social Work. This private university is the largest in the central Pacific and even provides a $500 grant to undergraduate students who enroll.

Chaminade University of Honolulu
As the only Catholic University in Hawaii, Chaminade University combines both reason and faith in its teachings. Over 25 undergraduate and graduate programs are offered, with divisions in fine arts and humanities, sciences and mathematics, behavioral sciences, business and communication, education and nursing. The campus is made up of iconic Spanish Mission inspired buildings that have sat prominently on the slopes Kalaepohaku for nearly a century. The campus overlooks the south shore of Oahu and has views of Diamond Head, Waikiki and downtown Honolulu.