Best Online Colleges in Hawaii

Benefits of Studying Online in Hawaii

The Aloha State, for many, is synonymous with picturesque beaches, deep blue waters and a culturally diverse population. But what many may not know if that with over 1.4 million inhabitants and an area of 10,932 square miles, Hawaii ranks as the 40th largest state by population, and the 43rd by total land area. These are both attributes one doesn't typically think of when conjuring up images of Hawaii's pristine beaches. Capitlized by Honolulu, it's the state's largest city and serves as the focal point of Hawaiian culture, economy and tourism.

Employment Stats

So, how is the state performing economically? For starters, as of October 2022, Hawaii had 619,600 people employed (not including farming) - the 43rd most of any state and 0.4% of the nation's total. That being said, that number tends to come with a bit of a caveat because the figures presented don't take into account those who may have moved temporarily either to the mainland or elsewhere in search of greater economic success. Nevertheless, excluding those people, more than 25,000 jobs were added in the last year (since 2021), which is an impressive increase of 4.24%, making it the 5th fastest growing state in terms of jobs.

That being said, Hawaii still has a ways to go to get to the national median of 2,977,600, as it fell nearly 1.4 thousand short, which works out to about -69% less than the median. Furthermore, it only beat out its neighboring state Montana by about 113,000 (22.21%), and was just edged out by Maine (-3.5% difference, 22,000 workers less). The state falls far short of the nation's leader (California, 97% difference), yet this shouldn't come as a surprise given that it accounts for just 0.4% of the nation’s population.

Job Opportunities

As one of the most exotic states in the US, it’s not surprising that Hawaii’s job market is just as unique and diverse. Whether the intent is to stay in the state after graduation or use it as a launching pad for the rest of your career, there’s no denying Hawaii is a great state to consider for higher education.

That being said, although the quantity is much lower than most other states, the diversity of job pathways and opportunities is still relatively high. This is because there are 584 unique job types in Hawaii, which puts it at the 43rd slot among states. This is roughly equivalent to the median number of job types, which Louisiana holds at 722, but still about 19% below the national average.

In terms of higher education options, the University of Hawaii (located in Honolulu) is the state’s highest ranked institution, and is a great place to begin your academic career. Hawaii also has numerous other colleges and universities, some with very specific focuses, such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which is an excellent choice for culinary arts and hospitality. In this case, there may be few other places in the world that match Hawaii’s education and job opportunities in these fields.

As with any state, the data can be surprising. Hawaii may not have the most robust economy, but its recent numbers suggest a trend of modest growth. Couple that with the state's cultural diversity and abundance of outdoor recreations, Hawaii may offer the perfect blend for college students looking for a comprehensive educational and recreational experience. And with the state showing signs of sustained economic growth, students will have ample opportunity to explore employment opportunities on the island state as well.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)