University of Hawaii system enrollment up 1st time in decade

HONOLULU — The number of students enrolled at the University of Hawaii’s 10 campuses increased this fall for the first time in a decade.

The school’s flagship Manoa campus led the way with a 6% increase, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. The university’s first-year class is its largest ever. Overall, the institution’s enrollment is the highest its been since 2014.

Enrollment at the Hilo campus is up 2.5%. Leeward Community College and Windward Community College posted gains of 0.8% and 3.8%, respectively.

Overall enrollment at UH’s seven community colleges, however, is down 3.2%.

Manoa enrollment, officials said, was up in nearly every category including resident, continental U.S, transfer and international students.

UH-Manoa Provost Michael Bruno credited the university for spreading the word about the benefits of a Manoa education.

The perception that Hawaii, and the Manoa campus in particular, have managed the coronavirus pandemic better than most places may have played a role, he said.

Hawaii Pacific University had been expecting an enrollment boost before the fall semester began. It was expecting to have 4,000 students this fall, its most ever. Its first-year class was expected to climb from about 500 to more than 800.