Admission Requirements
Prospective students considering attending UH West Oʻahu are encouraged to review the admissions requirements prior to applying for admission. The Enrollment Services Department has a number of qualified and helpful counselors who can assist students with questions about the institution, the application process, transfer credit, financing options, or any other questions you have – we have staff ready and available to assist you.
Freshmen
Freshmen are students, including early college, who have not attended a college or university after graduating high school.
- High school GPA: 2.7 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) based on the coursework listed below
- High school coursework: minimum 22 credits
- 4 English credits
- 3 Math credits (including Algebra II and Geometry)
- 3 Natural Sciences credits
- 3 Social Studies credits
- 4 College Prep credits (e.g., Language, Fine Arts)
- 5 Elective credits
- SAT or ACT test scores
Applicants who meet the freshman admissions requirement 1 and 2 above, will automatically be admitted to UH West O‘ahu. Applicants are expected to submit official records for all admissions requirements.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA or the minimum 22 credits of coursework will be evaluated based on SAT or ACT scores. Additionally, applicants will also be required to submit one letter of recommendation from a teacher and/or counselor and a one-page personal essay (Essay topic: Tell us about yourself and explain why you have chosen UH West O‘ahu for your academic studies).
Transfer
Transfer students are those presently or previously enrolled at a college or university after graduating high school. To be eligible for transfer admissions:
- Students must have completed at least 24 transferable college-level semester credits from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.0 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale). Students with fewer than 24 college-level semester credits, or who previously attended a non-regionally accredited institution, will be evaluated under freshman admission requirements (see above).
- Students who have graduated with an Associate in Arts degree from a University of Hawai‘i community college or other regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale are eligible for admission as a transfer student. Students with an Associate in Arts degree in the liberal arts will be accepted as having completed general education requirements.
- UH West O‘ahu reserves the right to grant provisional acceptance or deny admission to UH West O‘ahu based on previous student discipline issues (at another college or university) when known. Review and a final determination regarding admission to UH West O’ahu will be made by the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs (or his or her designee).
International
International students, who need an F-1 visa to study in the United States or are currently living in the U.S. on any type of visa, will need to meet the admissions requirements below:
- Official Secondary and Post-secondary School Transcripts
- All official transcripts, examination certifications (e.g., General Certificate of Education) and other documents showing all high school and any completed post-secondary work must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. All official transcripts must be mailed directly by the institution or Ministry of Education to the Office of Admissions. Documents mailed or hand carried by you or anyone else will not be accepted as official or used for admission consideration.
- Secondary school transcripts must include a list of courses taken and grades/internal marks received each year, class rank for the last four years of secondary school, and an explanation of the school’s grading system. If transcripts with annual internal marks are unavailable directly from the school, you may photocopy your mark sheets or grade reports and have them certified by a school official who verifies that a transcript is otherwise not available.
- Post-secondary school transcripts must include a list of courses taken, grades/marks received, number of hours spent in each class per term, explanation of the school’s grading system, and your rank in class. You may also be asked to provide course descriptions and a list of text books used in each course.
- Photocopies of external examination certificates must be certified by a school or Ministry of Education official or issued by the examining board and be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
- All documents must be in English or accompanied by an English translation that has been certified by a school or Ministry of Education official.
- A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for applicants from countries where English is not their primary language must be sent directly to UH West O‘ahu from Educational Testing Services. The minimum score for admission:
- Paper – 550 or higher
- Computer – 213 or higher
- Internet – 79 or higher
- TOEFL Exemptions
- Applicants with an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or better (academic section only)
- Applicants with a SAT Writing score of 510 or higher
- Applicants with an ACT English score of 22 or higher
- Grade of C or better in English 100 or equivalent (as determined by the UH West O’ahu Office of Admissions
* In addition to the TOEFL, an EIKEN Grade Pre-1 score is also acceptable.
High-School Early Admission
UH West O‘ahu provides educational opportunities for high school juniors and seniors through our Early Admission Program.
Interested students should speak with their high school counselor for more information.
High School Freshmen & Sophomores
- Minimum cumulative 2.7 high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- Minimum ACT Composite score of 18 or higher
High School Juniors
- Minimum cumulative 2.7 high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- Completed the following high school courses:
- 2 years of English
- 2 years of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II)
- 2 years of Physical Science
- 2 years of Social Studies
- 1 year of College Prep (Art, Music, Language, or additional courses listed above)
High School Seniors
- Minimum cumulative 2.7 high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- Completed the following high school courses:
- 3 years of English
- 2 years of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II) and currently registered for 3rd year
- 3 years of Physical Science
- 3 years of Social Studies
- 1 year of College Prep (Art, Music, Language, or additional courses listed above)
- Under the age of 21 as of Sept. 1
- Student must meet the prerequisites for the UH West O‘ahu course of interest
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
Eligibility
You must be a resident of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Washington State, Guam or Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Your family’s domicile (home) must be maintained as your permanent address throughout the duration of your participation in the WUE program. Freshman applicants must have a 2.7 cumulative grade-point-average over four years in high school. Transfer applicants must have a 2.0 cumulative grade-point-average. WUE Applicants must be accepted as a degree-seeking student at UH West O’ahu. Unclassified non-degree students are not eligible.
Home-Schooled Applicants
Applicants who have been homeschooled are expected to meet the admission criteria required of other applicants. Homeschooled applicants must submit a transcript that includes titles and descriptions of all course work completed, textbooks used, methods of teaching, and evaluation, and the resulting grades or structured assessments. SAT or ACT scores are strongly encouraged. Homeschooled applicants should contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
General Education Development (GED)
Applicants who have received their General Education Development (GED) diploma may apply for admission to UH West O‘ahu. GED applicants should submit an application and have their transcripts and test results sent directly to UH West O‘ahu for review. In addition, applicants should submit a letter of recommendation from their employer or counselor and a one-page personal essay to facilitate the evaluation of their application. SAT or ACT test scores are strongly encouraged.
*The Competency Based Community School Diploma Program does not qualify for admission.
Need help?
Office of Admissions
Phone: (808) 689-2900
uhwo.admissions@hawaii.edu