Chaminade University of Honolulu

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Diverse, Engaged Marianist Education at Chaminade

Chaminade University of Honolulu appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the West.

Ranked the West’s 44th best choice by the U.S. News & World Report, Chaminade University of Honolulu delivers 37 undergrad and nine master’s degrees, including 18 online, at an 11:1 student-professor ratio. For example, the B.S. Early Childhood Education logs into Canvas 24/7 for a 120-credit, CAEP-accredited online major that leads to Montessori credentials teaching children from birth to age six. Chaired by Dr. Helen Turner, the 120-credit B.S. Biochemistry offers cutting-edge tools like an Olympus BH-2 Fluorescence Microscope to study living organisms in Wesselkamper Hall. The B.A. International Trade follows a 120-credit, four-year path in Kieffer Hall with Marianist Exchange trips, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, and senior internships, such as Amazon.

Linked to a Psi Chi Chapter, the 60-credit M.S. Counseling Psychology admits four times yearly for accelerated, 10-week terms in Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, or Marriage and Family Counseling tracks.

Other options include the A.S. Criminal Justice, B.A. English, B.S. Data Science, B.S. Nursing, MEd Teacher Leader, and MBA Island Business.

About Chaminade University of Honolulu

Chaminade University of Honolulu originated in September 1883 when eight French Marianist priests sent by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, S.M., started the Saint Louis School for Catholic boys. In 1955, it became Saint Louis Junior College to fulfill the island’s need for religious associate education. Two years later, it introduced 120-credit bachelor’s degrees as Chaminade College though. Fully accredited in 1960, it launched the Graduate School as Chaminade University of Honolulu in 1977. By Fall 2006, the PACE Program was debuted for evening and online adult degrees. In 2010, Chaminade University established its highly regarded Sallie Y. Miyawaki School of Nursing. Chaminade University of Honolulu also received a $1 million STEM Grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in June 2017. Currently, Chaminade employs 133 faculty teaching 1,099 Silverswords online and at the 67-acre Hawaii campus near Waikiki Beach with 30+ clubs like Accounting Associates. On Niche, Chaminade boasts America’s 52nd best criminal justice program, 75th best location, and 94th top Catholic education.

Chaminade University of Honolulu Accreditation Details

On June 18, 2010, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission voted to satisfactorily extend the Level III accreditation at Chaminade University of Honolulu through 2020 under its 10th president, Dr. Lynn Babington, who received the CTSA Community Engagement Award. Located 2,403 miles east across the Pacific Ocean in Alameda, this nine-territory West Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program. The Office of the Provost also lists these degree-specific approvals:

  •  Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
  •  Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)
  •  Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
  •  Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  •  International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Chaminade University of Honolulu Application Requirements

Getting into Chaminade University of Honolulu is classified “selective” by the U.S. News & World Report though 807 of the 875 Fall 2017 applicants were okayed for 91 percent acceptance. First-year Silverswords need adequate college prep with four years of English, three years of Social Science, and three years of Math. Only GED marks above 580 are high school diploma equivalent. Keeping a cumulative 2.5 GPA or better during grades 9-12 is expected. The B.S. Nursing brings the minimum GPA up to 2.75. Freshmen must reach at least 1000 on the New SAT, 920 on the Old SAT, or 19 on the ACT exams. Incoming transfers must meet 2.0 GPAs in regionally accredited college courses. The School of Nursing makes grades above “C-” for Biology, Algebra, and Chemistry prerequisite. English language learners need a 231 TOEFL cBT, 79 TOEFL iBT, or 6.0 IELTS score. The Graduate School generally seeks a 3.0 GPA or higher in accredited bachelor’s study. Only Master of Education entrants can apply with GPAs as low as 2.75. The M.S. Criminal Justice Administration lists a minimum 130 GRE subject score. MBA cohorts need 24 months of relevant full-time experience too.

Chaminade University of Honolulu has final undergrad deadlines of May 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring. Note the B.S. Nursing has a February 1st priority date though. Registration deadlines for the Graduate School are currently April 16th, July 16th, October 9th, and January 22nd. Accordingly, submit the $25 ($40 if graduate) Chaminade or Common Application online. PDF copies plus official transcripts can be mailed to 3140 Waialae Avenue in Honolulu, HI 96816. World Education Services documents have an extra $150 fee for international students. Other steps might include the original recommendation letters, experience résumé, admission interview, reflection essay, RN license, letter of intent, and portfolio. Please inquire further at (808) 739-8340 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Chaminade University of Honolulu has billed full-time undergrads $13,067 per semester or $26,134 annually. The School of Nursing specifically costs $16,157 per term or $32,314 by year. Living at the Kaimuki campus’ dorms like Hale Lokelani costs $2,825 to $6,010 each term. Traditional meal plans for Silversword Cafe are $3,445 extra. Chaminade budgets $1,600 for textbooks, $977 for transport, and $1,436 for personal expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals around $41,507 on-site and $28,407 at home. The PACE Program charges online undergrads $550 per credit or $1,650 by course. Active-duty military receive a $250 per credit discount. The School of Education bills MAT/MEd majors $825 per credit. MBA tuition is presently $1,035 per credit. M.S. Counseling Psychology students pay $1,000 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Clarence Ching Hall gifts $17.51 million yearly for 82 percent of Chaminade Silverswords to reap $12,689 on average. University awards include the Marianist Leadership Scholarship, Regents Scholarship, Transfer Grant, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, ROTC Scholarship, Parish Scholarship, Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Honolulu STEM Scholarship, Athletic Scholarship, Alaka’ina Endowed Scholarship, and Kamehameha Nursing Scholarship. The Hawaii Community Foundation has a January 31st deadline for 200+ funds, such as the Barbara Leppe Scholarship and Esther Kanagawa Art Scholarship. Since 1996, the $1,500 Toraji and Toki Toshinaga Scholarship has helped Chaminade students with good moral character. Completing the FAFSA form coded 001605 would determine Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, Work-Study, and Direct Loan eligibility. Hawaiians pursue the Opportunity Grant, State Incentive Grant, and Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program. The Career Center also lists paid internships like Make-A-Wish, Ronald McDonald House, and Saint Louis School for $10-$15/hour.

Search through five accredited, nonprofit Catholic schools at the Chaminade University of Honolulu website.