Number of students at UH Hilo down 4% while most other UH campuses see gains

Although enrollment at nearly all of the campuses in the University of Hawaii system increased this fall semester compared to last year, UH Hilo is lagging behind.

The Hilo campus was one of only two of the 10 UH campuses that had a decrease in enrollment this semester compared to the fall 2023 semester.

While the entire UH system overall had a 3% enrollment increase — and some campuses, like Leeward Community College and UH Maui College had increases of 7% and 6%, respectively — UH Hilo’s enrollment fell by 4% from 2023, from 2,781 to 2,668 students.

The only other campus to have a decrease this semester was UH West Oahu, where enrollment dropped by 2%.

This marks the third consecutive year of declining fall enrollment at UH Hilo. However, except for a slight pandemic rebound in 2021 — when UH Hilo saw a 2.5% enrollment increase compared to 2020, or an increase of 78 students — the campus has been losing students each year since 2013, when there were 4,043 students.

UH Hilo isn’t the only campus with a history of enrollment challenges, and every campus in the UH system has had more fall enrollment decreases than increases since 2013. But UH Manoa, the UH system’s most populous campus, has had a boost in enrollment in four of the last five fall semesters — the exception, in 2022, was a decrease by 0.1%, or 24 students.

“While UH Hilo did see a slight increase in new student enrollment, our overall decline is largely related to student retention — an issue that many institutions similar to ours, including other regional colleges in the UH system, are also navigating,” said Christopher Holland, UH Hilo’s vice chancellor for student affairs, via email Wednesday. “Being a regional college in a rural island setting presents unique challenges, particularly in attracting students from outside of Hawaii who may be less familiar with our programs and community. This is a trend seen across many regional institutions nationwide.”

Holland said retaining students from the mainland has historically been a challenge for the college, as they often need more time to adjust to their new environment. Meanwhile, UH Hilo has “limited brand exposure outside of Hawaii,” and the rise of online institutions has provided a more convenient education option for many potential students.

“Our mission prioritizes serving local and Native Hawaiian students, and we are deeply committed to this responsibility,” Holland continued. “Many island families continue to face economic challenges that may affect educational choices, especially in the current post-pandemic context.”

Holland touted that despite the campus’ other struggles, UH Hilo has seen increased enrollment among Native Hawaiian and international students.

UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin noted in a statement that returning students — those who paused their studies for more than a semester, possibly during the pandemic, and have now returned — are up by 25%.

The UH system overall had its enrollment across all 10 campuses surpass 50,000 students, which it hasn’t done since 2018. Six years ago, there were 51,063 students in the system, while today there are 50,418.

First-time freshmen from Hawaii high schools also increased by 10% across the entire UH system.

Indeed, Hawaii Community College had a 1.3% increase in enrollment this semester, with a total student headcount of 2,289, 29 more than last fall.

“The two campuses on the Big Island, they tend to work in tandem, so when Hawaii Community College is up, UH Hilo is down,” said Christian Fern, executive director of the UH Professional Assembly, the faculty’s union.

Fern said UH Hilo’s current straits seem to match the trends of colleges nationwide, and added the university’s overall performance still bodes well.

He added that a hiring freeze implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic ended in July 2023, and that faculty numbers have steadily risen since then. He said student enrollment trends tend to align with the number of faculty, with systemwide enrollment increasing as faculty does.

In order to boost enrollment, Holland said UH has undertaken several initiatives that have begun to show “promising signs that these efforts are stabilizing enrollment.”

Those initiatives include bolstering the university’s community relations and outreach efforts in order to connect with students who might not have otherwise considered UH Hilo. Holland said this process requires strengthening UH partnerships with local high schools, alumni and other community organizations.

Holland added that UH Hilo’s Center for Career Exploration and Global Exchange, which provides students with internship opportunities and global learning experiences, has received positive feedback from prospective students, and that the university will enhance its digital outreach efforts to better connect with potential students.

“Strengthening community and alumni relations, developing academic programs aligned with workforce needs, and creating an inclusive campus environment where students feel they belong are all part of our long-term strategy,” Holland said. “We’re confident these initiatives will support a sustainable enrollment base at UH Hilo.”

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.