Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ±á¾±±ô´Ç’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and Hawaiʻi can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the UH law school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in Hawaiʻi to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation’s top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @¶«¾«Ó°ÒµM—a registered independent organization at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented Hawaiʻi in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of Hawaiʻi.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @¶«¾«Ó°ÒµM was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as Hawaiʻi has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

The University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is gaining national visibility for its work on clinician well-being. Assistant Professor Frankie B. Hale, has been selected as a Changemaker Accelerator in Cohort 2 of the , a yearlong program that brings together national leaders to develop and scale innovative strategies for improving clinician resilience and well-being.

The selection recognizes Hale’s research on reducing burnout and supporting well-being in nurses. Her work focuses on translating evidence-based strategies into practical tools for students and faculty, helping prepare the next generation of clinicians for sustainable careers in healthcare. Hale also contributes to the State of Well-Being Project through the Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience.

Expanding impact through national collaboration

Through the NAM program, Hale will work with national leaders—including the American Nurses Association (ANA)—to expand evidence-based strategies developed with community partners. Using a simulation learning model, her project provides student nurses with practical tools to strengthen their well-being and resilience as they navigate the demands of clinical work.

“I’m excited to bring what we’re learning here in Hawaiʻi to a national stage, and then bring back strategies and resources that can make a real difference for our students and faculty,” Hale said. “This work is about more than measuring burnout—it’s about creating sustainable ways to support the well-being of the people who care for our communities every day.”

By the end of the program, Hale hopes to build lasting peer-to-peer partnerships with national leaders and translate those lessons into actionable programs at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ, advancing the school’s mission to train the next generation of clinicians who thrive in their professional and personal lives.

During spring break, University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ nursing student Jolene Chun joined National Guard search and rescue efforts in high-risk flood zones in Waialua to help ensure the safety of residents and property during the state evacuation order in March. Chun, a state-activated Hawaiʻi Air National Guard Staff Sergeant medic with the U.S. Air Force, is pursuing her advanced degree through the (GEPN) in the (SONDH).

“The most impactful moment during the search was witnessing the devastation of mass amounts of property and vehicles displaced due to the powerful impact of the flood,” Chun said.

Chun earned her bachelor of arts in with a concentration in disaster preparedness and management from ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ West Oʻahu in 2021. Her decision to serve as a medic in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard was influenced in part by educational opportunities, including tuition assistance that supported her undergraduate degree.

Her training in the GEPN program built on her clinical experience as a medic, strengthening her ability to respond in high-pressure situations.

“The program helped me render aid with definitive treatments in mind, which made me more confident assisting in the field,” she said.

Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call.
—Jolene Chun

Balancing both roles, Chun said the skills complement each other and reinforce a shared focus on patient care, making her immediate decision to assist during spring break instinctive.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist in responding to people in the community. Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call,” she said.

A long-term commitment to service

Chun plans to graduate in 2028 and commission as a Hawaiʻi Air National Guard nurse, eventually pursuing the to continue serving Hawaiʻi communities. In addition to focusing on women’s wellness, she aims to help improve coordination across federal, state, city and private sectors to expand access to healthcare.

As the affected communities continue cleaning and rebuilding, Chun reflects on the ongoing efforts. “I am appreciative that the National Guard members are still out there working with the community to help the land and people pick up the pieces to hopefully normalize after the effects of the Kona Low system.”

SONDH Dean Clementina Ceria-Ulep added, “Jolene’s dedication as a nursing student and medic showcases the remarkable service and leadership our students bring to Hawaiʻi communities.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is part of a new $3.5 million multi-state project to improve cervical cancer screening and follow-up at primary care clinics in Hawaiʻi, Florida and Massachusetts. The Hawaiʻi portion, led by Holly Fontenot, associate dean for research and professor at the and faculty member of the , is supported by a major five–year, R01 award from the National Institutes of Health.

The project, Development of Systems and Education for Cervical Cancer Prevention (DOSE–CC), will adapt, validate and test interventions designed to boost cervical cancer prevention and follow-up care across diverse populations.

Fontenot brings experience from her prior work in women’s health and HPV-associated cancer prevention, and is one of four multiple principal investigators collaborating with Boston Medical Center, Tufts University and the Moffitt Cancer Center. The Hawaiʻi research team also includes Komal Soin and Patty Tran from the .

“This award reflects the strength of our ongoing research partnerships and the importance of multidisciplinary teams working together to develop effective, sustainable and impactful multi-level interventions that help to transform the current paradigm in cancer screening and follow-up,” Fontenot said.

The project builds on previous studies, including Cervical Cancer: Provider Response and Options of Guidelines Related to Screening Strategies (CC PROGRESS), funded by the American Cancer Society, and DOSE–HPV, which successfully increased HPV vaccination rates.

By combining clinical research with community engagement, the project seeks to develop sustainable, effective interventions that can be scaled nationally — including across the U.S. Work on DOSE–CC is already underway and is expected to be completed by 2030.

For many nursing students, the cost of tuition and living expenses can create a heavy financial burden while balancing coursework and clinical training. The University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has partnered with Social Finance to offer zero-interest student loans through the , a program designed to help students cover educational costs without the burden of high-interest debt.

Eligible ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who are within two years of graduation can to cover the cost of attendance after grants and scholarships. Applicants must be permanent Hawaiʻi residents and qualify as low-income. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $15,000 per academic year.

The loan program continues to support students in the College of Engineering, where it was launched to help students with demonstrated financial need complete their degrees. The ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene is the latest ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ program to join the initiative, expanding access to more students across the university.

“We’re excited to join this new program, building on its success with other ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ students,” said Clementina Ceria-Ulep, dean of the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene. “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting nursing students as they complete their degrees and prepare for careers in the local healthcare workforce.”

The school is holding an informational session with Social Finance on Monday, February 9, 2026 from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

How the program works

The Hawaiʻi Renewable Learning Fund provides eligible students with loans that carry zero interest and no origination fees, helping cover remaining costs of tuition, living expenses and other educational needs not met by grants and scholarships.

After graduation, students repay their loans through fixed monthly payments over up to five years, with options to defer monthly payments when income falls below a minimum threshold. Repayments are recycled into the fund to support future students, creating a sustainable resource.

By offering financial flexibility while in school, the program allows students to focus on their studies and clinical training, helping them complete their degrees with less stress and prepare for careers in Hawaiʻi’s healthcare community.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Nursing prepares bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral nurses to serve diverse populations across Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. Its online master’s program is nationally ranked. Graduates consistently achieve high licensure pass rates, reflecting the program’s academic standards and workforce preparation.

For more information about the zero-interest loan, visit the . ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Nursing students who have questions should contact their Office of Student Services advisor.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s was recognized in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s best online programs, released on January 27. ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa placed No. 62 out of the top 209 . ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa was the only nursing school in Hawaiʻi to be ranked for online education.

U.S. News and World Report assessed programs in student engagement (30%), faculty credentials and training (20%), peer assessment (20%), student services and technologies (20%) and student excellence (10%).

“This ranking underscores the strength of our online nursing program,” said Clementina D. Ceria-Ulep, dean of the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. “It speaks to our focus on delivering rigorous, accessible education that equips nurses to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. It also reflects the dedication of our faculty and students to meeting the evolving needs of health care and higher education.”

More about the online program

The online is a distance-based online master’s degree for registered nurses who wish to practice in Hawaiʻi, in the continental U.S. or international setting.

The program focuses on population-level health, wellness, social determinants of health, health promotion and disease prevention. Coursework is completed online, and fieldwork is conducted in the student’s own local community.

The 30-credit program is designed to be completed in one year as a full-time student or in two years as a part-time student. Students complete a six-credit capstone project that includes 270 hours of fieldwork experience. The capstone project is designed to provide students with experience in the indirect care level of service at the aggregate population, organizational or systems level. There is an additional nine-credit thesis option.

The deadline to apply to the online APHN program is May 1. . There is a on February 18.

For information about graduate programs, visit the .

A Native Hawaiian nurse leader at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (SONDH) has earned national recognition for her work advancing health equity. Donna-Marie Palakiko was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and a Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (ADLN).

“I am honored to be inducted into the 2025 Class of New Fellows for the American Academy of Nursing,” said Palakiko, associate professor and SONDH director of cultural innovation and strategy. “This recognition is shared with those who volunteered to be a part of my program of research, supported my learning & growth, and most of all, my ʻOhana. I am excited to continue the work to improve health among Indigenous communities.”

Fellowship in AAN recognizes individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on health and healthcare through research, policy, practice – and education. Palakiko was inducted in October 2025 during the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, U.S.

As a Distinguished Fellow of ADLN, she joins a national network of leaders advancing justice, equity, diversity – and inclusion in nursing.

According to ADLN, “The 2025 Fellows represent a powerful collective dedicated to shaping the future of nursing and healthcare by ensuring all voices are heard and valued.”

Research and community impact

Related ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ News story: Nursing innovator fellowship for ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ assistant professor

Palakiko joined ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ in 2019 as the first Native Hawaiian nurse to be hired and receive tenure with promotion at SONDH. Her research addresses asthma inequities among Native Hawaiians and focuses on building a culturally responsive health workforce. For more than 25 years, Palakiko has advanced health equity for Native Hawaiians and other underserved communities. Her work focuses on culturally safe health programs, strengthening the nursing workforce, and addressing social and cultural factors that influence health.

Earlier this year, Palakiko joined the American Public Health Association (APHA) leadership team and serves on the boards of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurses Association (NCEMNA) and the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA).

She earned her doctorate from the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, her master’s of science from the University of California, San Francisco, and her bachelor’s of science from the University of San Francisco. She is a 2022 Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow, a 2023 Fellow of the LEADS program, and a recipient of the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders & Innovators.

Column by Chancellor Lui Hokoana was published by on October 23, 2025.

Beginning with the Fall 2026 semester, our college will offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. This is a big, BIG deal. It means Maui County will have the best prepared new RNs we can offer. And it also means we will have the potential to graduate enough nurses to serve our county’s needs through the year 2036.

It took a long time to get here. And while it did “take a village,” our Allied Health Department Chair and Professor of Nursing Dr. Anne Scharnhorst, who has been laser-focused on this goal for years, calls herself “one of the noisier villagers.” She and her nursing department faculty and staff did most of the heavy lifting. And we are very grateful.

Scharnhorst joined our nursing faculty in 2007, armed with two nursing degrees and more than 25 years of professional experience in acute and critical care and clinical informatics. “Between 2007 and 2010, Hawaiʻi Statewide Nursing Consortium (HSNC) built a unified curriculum among ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, Kapi’olani Community College, Kauaʻi Community College, and ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Maui College so that the Associate Degree Nursing graduates could seamlessly go to ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees,” explains Scharnhorst. “This was an innovation that received nationwide attention as everyone was working to build a bigger Bachelors’-prepared workforce.” The Institute of Medicine had set a goal of having 80% of practicing nurses holding a BSN or higher by 2020.

And that was all Scharnhorst needed to hear. While she continued to teach and mentor and administer at our college, in 2020 she achieved her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. Like everything she does, this was more for the greater good than for her own advancement. “The reason I pursued this degree is because I have had in my heart and in my sights since 2015 to see our Nursing Program here on Maui become a full BSN Program,” says Scharnhorst. “I’m happy to have been able to learn things to help the college and the community. This is what lifelong learning is all about—making you more effective at doing what you love to do.”

Also in 2020, an Authorization to Plan (ATP) for the BSN program was submitted to ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ‘s Chief Council of Academic Officers. Then came COVID-19. And as a result of the pandemic, the process was stalled. But the delay, ultimately, gave Scharnhorst the time to solidify the BSN program curriculum with our Counseling Department. “We worked closely with the Nursing faculty to design a curriculum that supports student success from start to finish. Through careful collaboration and shared expertise, we were able to align academic pathways, solidify prerequisites, and ensure a smooth transition from pre-nursing to the BSN program. I believe our partnership helped create a curriculum that is not only academically strong, but also student- centered and culturally relevant,” says Professor of Counseling Wayne Aguiran. That task was completed in 2024. And then it was full speed ahead. Finally.

A funding bill moved through the Hawaiʻi State Senate. In the end, the legislature approved $560,000 in funding. ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ President Wendy Hensel voiced support on her first visit to our campus in March of this year. “When I introduced myself to her,” recalls Scharnhorst, “she said, ‘Nursing is easy to say yes to.’” More submissions were required—to the Hawaiʻi State Board of Nursing, to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges—Senior College and University Commission. And more approvals were needed—from the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Chief Council of Academic Officers and the Board of Regents Student Success Committee. That final approval came on Oct. 2.

“I believe this advancement elevates the education, perspective, and professional lens through which our nurses care for our patients and our community. By investing in our nurses, we strengthen the future of health care on Maui,” says one of our staunchest supporters, Marian Horikawa-Barth. And she should know. She’s the Chief Nurse Executive for Maui Health. And a graduate of our Nursing Program.

For complete information about ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Maui College, please visit

Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County with information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.

The University of Hawaiʻi’s three 4-year universities earned national recognition in the U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings released on September 23, including four top 10 regional rankings for ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ West Oʻahu.

, and were ranked among the top 4-year institutions by U.S. News and World Report out of based on up to 17 measures (depending on ranking category) of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, financial resources and student excellence.

“These rankings reflect the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students across all three ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ 4-year campuses,” ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ President Wendy Hensel said. “They show that we are continuing to provide Hawaiʻi students with a high-quality, affordable education while preparing them to lead in their communities and beyond.”

The flagship campus of the ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ System ranked No. 92 as a top U.S. public university; No. 122 for best colleges for veterans; No. 169 overall in the country; and No. 189 in social mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who were federal Pell Grant recipients.

The came in at No. 109 among the best undergraduate business programs out of 533 ranked undergraduate business programs.

The is the No. 118 best undergraduate nursing program among 686 ranked undergraduate nursing programs.

The in the ranked No. 139 for best undergraduate economics programs in the nation.

The placed No. 150 among the best undergraduate engineering programs that offer doctoral degrees in the country.

The in the ranked as the No. 177 best undergraduate computer science program out of 601 ranked programs.

The in the ranked No. 196 out of the top 682 best undergraduate psychology programs in the nation.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Hilo ranked No. 178 as a top U.S. public university, No. 204 for social mobility and No. 329 overall among the top 434 national universities—a classification based on offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, emphasizing research, as explained in the rankings categories below.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ ±á¾±±ô´Ç’s is the No. 186 best undergraduate nursing program in the country, the placed No. 254 among the 533 best undergraduate business programs, and the ranked No. 297 out of the best 682 undergraduate psychology programs.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ West Oʻahu ranked No. 3 for best public colleges in the West, No. 3 for best colleges for veterans among regional colleges in the West, No. 8 overall among regional colleges in the West (two spots higher than last year and five spots higher than the year prior) and No. 8 for social mobility for regional colleges in the West (five spots higher than last year and 13 spots higher than the year prior).

Ranking categories

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Mānoa and ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Hilo were ranked in the national universities category, which featured institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates.

¶«¾«Ó°Òµ West Oʻahu is in the regional colleges in the West category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than 50% of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.