Accelerated Online Bachelor's Programs in Hawaii 2026

Trying to complete your degree while working full-time is hard but worth the investment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates earn 62.5% more than high school graduates.

Students in Hawaii often want to pursue higher education and quickly earn their degrees. With the cost of living in Hawaii 85% higher than the national average, it's even more important for students to land a job fast.

If you're ready to take the next step in your education and career but don't have much time, consider accelerated online bachelor's degree programs so you can quickly start working in your field. Keep reading to discover accelerated bachelor's degree online programs for students in Hawaii.

How Long Does It Take To Earn an Online Bachelor's Degree in Hawaii?

An online bachelor's degree takes four years and 120 credits. Accelerated education programs are the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree. Most accelerated programs take two years.

Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Hawaii

Online accelerated degrees broaden opportunities for quality education in smaller areas. Most accelerated degrees are asynchronous, meaning you learn independently without live instructions. Keep reading to discover the best accelerated online bachelor's degree programs in Hawaii.

1. University of Hawai'i at Manoa

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) offers online degrees in economics, medical technology, and interdisciplinary studies. Hybrid learning is available for early childhood education and nursing. It provides federal aid, military tuition exemptions, and reduced employee tuition. UHM accepts up to 60 transfer credits.

Time to completion: 30 to 42 months

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

2. Chaminade University of Honolulu

Chaminade University of Honolulu offers flex programs, which lets students learn at their own pace and start any month. This includes business administration, criminology and criminal justice, and psychology programs.

You can transfer up to 90 credits, leaving only 25% of your degree to complete. While flex programs are available 100% online, education majors must complete in-person student teaching.

Time to completion: 30 to 42 months

Accreditation: WASC

3. Hawai'i Pacific University

Hawai'i Pacific University has an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and dual degree options. Pair this with the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and graduate in 34 to 44 months (compared to typically taking 48-60 months).

Students can also consider various options from Hawai'i Pacific University's credit-by-examination, which include:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• DANTES subject standardized tests (DSST)
• university-specific exams

Students can transfer up to 90 credits toward their bachelor's degree (or 45 credits for an associate degree), but their grades must be C- or higher. Other options include human resource development, criminal justice, computer science, or psychology programs.

Time to completion: 24 to 42 months

Accreditation: WASC

Other Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S.

Living in a remote area doesn't mean sacrificing quality education. With accelerated online learning, complete your degree faster and around your schedule. Keep reading to discover online bachelor's degree programs for Hawaiian students.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers one class at a time and may accept 87 credits toward your bachelor's degree (in some cases 90 credits). Preliminary transfer credit evaluations are available online. It has healthcare, education, technology, criminal justice, and computer science programs. Prior learning and life experience credits are available too.

Time to completion: 24 to 42 months

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Capella University

Capella University's FlexPath lets you choose between taking one or two courses at a time and even changing the deadline. It has programs for health care administration, business, IT, computer science, psychology, and nursing.

Eligible students need at least 45 transfer credits and a minimum 2.8 GPA. It accepts up to 135 quarter credits (90 semester credits) and prior learning through work certifications or petitions.

Time to completion: 9 to 15 months

Accreditation: HLC

Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) takes a competency-based approach to earning your degree in education, healthcare, information technology (IT), and business. Students can earn credit by demonstrating knowledge and experience and skip traditional semester timelines.

You can transfer up to 90 credits and move forward using performance assessments. There are no set start dates, so you can start immediately, however, you must complete a set number of competencies within six months to avoid being considered inactive.

Time to completion: 24 to 36 months

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Walden University

Walden University's Tempo Learning program uses a subscription-based with one flat cost for a three-month term, letting you take as many courses, or competencies, as you want. Tempo Learning is available for bachelor's or master's degrees in business, education, and psychology. It's competency-based and self-paced with no set deadlines.

While maximum transferred credits aren't specified, they offer free transfer credit evaluations.

Time to completion: 36 to 42 months

Accreditation: HLC

Southern New Hampshire University

Classes at Southern New Hampshire University start every eight weeks and while two courses are required, you can request up to four. SNHU offers online bachelor's degrees in game programming and development, criminal justice, psychology, and business administration.

It accepts military training, job certifications, and prior learning assessments. You can transfer up to 90 credits.

Time to completion: 12 to 36 months

Accreditation: HLC

Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) has credit-by-examination, letting students to earn college credit by demonstrating their knowledge through standardized tests. Students can choose from degrees in business, marketing, health sciences, and education.

The MyPath2ASU program creates transfer pathways (including for Hawai'i Community College students). It accepts 90 transfer credits.

Time to completion: 24 to 36 months

Accreditation: HLC

Herzing University

Herzing University has a dual enrollment MBA pathway, so you can complete a master's degree in business administration while completing your bachelor's degree. There are year-round, self-paced degree programs in computer science, behavioral health, information technology, and business analytics.

Additional credit is available through professional certifications, CLEP or DSST exams, and military training. The total transfer credits aren't specified; an admissions advisor will evaluate your transcripts.

Time to completion: 30 to 36 months

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

To decide which programs made the cut, we focused on factors that impact students the most. We considered:

• Accreditation: All schools mentioned above are regionally accredited.
• Program length: We chose schools with asynchronous, accelerated programs and no set class schedules.
• Program reputation and quality: We selected programs that offer affordability, flexibility, and strong academic standing.
• Tuition cost: All programs offer transparent tuition rates or personalized tuition estimates and financial aid.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

How To Accelerate Your Bachelor’s Degree in Hawaii

Accelerating your bachelor's degree can be extremely beneficial, especially because it allows you to enter the workforce early. Below, we'll discuss three strategies for expediting your studies.

• Take an accelerated degree: As we've discussed earlier, there are schools in and out of Hawaii that offer fast online degree programs. Applying to any of these programs can significantly expedite your studies, allowing you to graduate in as few as 12 months.
• Leverage credit-by-exam: Credit-by-exam (CBE) helps students earn college credit by demonstrating mastery of specific subjects. Examples of CBE providers include the College-Level Examination (CLEP) and the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST). Taking one or more of the standardized tests they offer can help you skip certain courses while earning credits.
• Complete your courses online: Online courses are flexible and accessible anytime, anywhere. As a result, it is easier to complete online classes than their traditional counterparts. Moreover, online course providers (e.g., Study.com) allow students to transfer the credits they earn to any of their numerous school partners.

FAQs About the Fastest Bachelor's Degrees in Hawaii

In the state of Hawaii, there's a growing demand for healthcare, education, and technology. Earning a degree opens doors in these fields. To help you take the next step, we've answered some frequently asked questions below.

Are There Any One-Year Online Bachelor's Degrees in Hawaii?

No, in Hawaii there isn't currently a one-year bachelor's degree available online. However, if you already have an associate degree or previous credits, you can get your degree faster with accelerated online degree programs. Most accelerated programs accept 90 credits.

Are Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees Fully Online?

Most accelerated bachelor's programs are fully online. This means that all lessons, examinations, and assignments are digital. This set-up is especially advantageous for working and adult students.

However, some institutions offer accelerated degree programs in hybrid and in-person formats. A hybrid program features a combination of online and face-to-face teaching. On the other hand, an in-person format involves on-site instruction. This means that classes and exams are all done on campus.

Do Online Accelerated Programs Have Set Schedules or Flexible Deadlines?

Most online accelerated bachelor's programs have flexible schedules with strict deadlines. These programs essentially compress four-year degrees into short timelines. As a result, courses are taken at five- to eight-week intervals, and set deadlines are put in place.

In this set-up, you are free to plan your study time around your other responsibilities. However, you are required to meet the cut-offs for assignments and exams. This set-up benefits students who need external accountability to stay on track.

What Is the Difference Between Accelerated and Self-Paced Degree Programs?

As mentioned earlier, an accelerated program compresses a four-year degree's coursework into a shorter timeline (between one and three years). In addition, this type of program is cohort-based, so you'll be going through it with a group of students.

Meanwhile, a self-paced degree is for independent learners. You can dictate the pace in this kind of program. This means you can graduate early or not, depending on how fast you complete the necessary coursework.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Accelerate your path to higher earning potential and career opportunities by exploring the accredited online bachelor's degrees featured on Learn.org. Take the next step toward higher education by reaching out to schools directly to learn more about their online courses today.