Chaminade University of Honolulu — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Chaminade University of Honolulu (HI) is a private, Catholic university with a strong focus on service and cultural understanding. Admissions are holistic, evaluating students on their potential to succeed in an inclusive, mission-driven environment. They favor applicants who show initiative in community or cross-cultural leadership.
Chaminade University of Honolulu Acceptance Rate
Admission at Chaminade University of Honolulu is inclusive by design. 92.6% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Chaminade University of Honolulu Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Chaminade University of Honolulu follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Chaminade University of Honolulu reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Chaminade University of Honolulu GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Chaminade University of Honolulu is 3.42. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.12–3.42 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.62–3.82.Chaminade University of Honolulu GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation required for first-year admission; test scores are optional. Admission is rolling with a $50 application fee (waivers available).
- Chaminade is federally designated as both a Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
- Roughly 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio; NCAA Division II, Pacific West Conference, team name "Silverswords."
- Founded in 1955 as Saint Louis Junior College, became Chaminade College in 1957, and Chaminade University of Honolulu in 1977 after adding graduate programs.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Chaminade University of Honolulu
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Chaminade University of Honolulu's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Chaminade University of Honolulu Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Chaminade University of Honolulu Without SAT or ACT?
Chaminade University of Honolulu Average SAT Score: 1155
Admitted students at Chaminade University of Honolulu average a 1155 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
A 1155 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Scored under 1085? A retake is worth it at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 588 | 520 | 655 |
| SAT Reading | 615 | 565 | 665 |
| SAT Composite | 1155 | 1085 | 1320 |
A score under 1085 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1320+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Chaminade University of Honolulu with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in Chaminade University of Honolulu's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Chaminade University of Honolulu
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Chaminade University of Honolulu provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Chaminade's own application confirms no personal essay and no letter of recommendation are required for first-year admission, and test scores are optional - the file is transcript-driven. Redirect the energy usually spent on supplemental essays toward requesting transcripts early and toward the Ho'oulu or program-specific scholarship essays instead, which do require writing.
The Ho'oulu STEM Scholarship (built with Kamehameha Schools, giving preference to applicants of Native Hawaiian ancestry) covers full tuition for four years plus wraparound academic support and housing subsidy consideration for STEM, business, environmental science, forensic sciences, and nursing majors. Chaminade's automatic general merit scholarship explicitly excludes Biology, Environmental Science, Forensic Sciences, and Nursing majors - students in those fields should pursue Ho'oulu or a program-specific award instead of assuming the general track applies to them.
The Traditional BSN admits for fall term only, reviews applications on a rolling basis until the cohort fills, then waitlists the rest. A $200 enrollment deposit secures a seat once offered. Because there's no fixed date that guarantees admission, a strong but late application can still land on the waitlist purely on timing.
Chaminade's Forensic Sciences program includes an on-campus crime scene house and lab equipment credible enough that the Catholic Church called on the university's Forensic Sciences Unit to help recover the remains of Saint Marianne of Moloka'i. Applicants interested in the field should reference this program specifically - not generic "criminal justice" language - to signal informed interest.
Published acceptance-rate figures for Chaminade vary wildly across third-party sources (roughly 52% to over 92%) because aggregators pull from inconsistent or outdated snapshots. Treat any single acceptance-rate number with caution and confirm current competitiveness directly with Chaminade's admissions office, especially since rolling admissions make year-to-year comparisons unreliable.
Chaminade University of Honolulu Profile
Is a Chaminade University of Honolulu Degree Worth It?
Whether Chaminade University of Honolulu is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $72,500, and graduates see a 3.55% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu Cost?
Listed tuition runs $43,637/year at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Chaminade University of Honolulu, 42.2% receive a Pell Grant and 37.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Chaminade University of Honolulu on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Chaminade University of Honolulu Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates report a median income of $52,343, about 29% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Chaminade University of Honolulu. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 1119 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Chaminade University of Honolulu. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Chaminade University of Honolulu. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Chaminade University of Honolulu
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Chaminade University of Honolulu Admissions
Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates earn a moderate median salary of $52,343/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Chaminade University of Honolulu is moderate, around $43,637/year; many students supplement with aid.
42.2% of Chaminade University of Honolulu students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Chaminade University of Honolulu's acceptance rate is 92.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Chaminade University of Honolulu students is 3.42, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.12 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.02 or below makes admission tougher at Chaminade University of Honolulu, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Chaminade University of Honolulu weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1155, and within the 1085–1320 range, keeps you competitive.
Chaminade University of Honolulu follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
