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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is No. 15 in the world in atmospheric sciences, No. 16 in oceanography and No. 50 in hospitality and tourism management, according to the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, considered one of the most comprehensive and objective rankings of world universities by subjects. A total of 15 UH Mānoa programs were ranked, including two others that earned top 100 marks.

UH Mānoa was one of the approximately 1,800 universities in 93 countries selected by GRAS out of more than 26,000 colleges and universities to be considered for the annual ranking. The criteria include research output, research influence, international collaboration, research quality and international academic awards.

“The rankings are a testament to the continued excellence demonstrated by our faculty, staff and students, affirming our position as one of the top universities in the world,” UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno said. “It is an important reminder of the value UH Mānoa brings to Hawaiʻi as the flagship university of the stateʻs public higher education system.”

Subject rankings

  • Atmospheric science: 15
  • Oceanography: 16
  • Hospitality and tourism management: 50
  • Communication: 51–75
  • Earth sciences: 51–75
  • Ecology: 101–150
  • Education: 151–200
  • Business administration: 201–300
  • Environmental science and engineering: 201–300
  • Geography: 201–300
  • Political science: 201–300
  • Human biological sciences: 301–400
  • Biological sciences: 401–500
  • Psychology: 401–500
  • Public health: 401–500

Academic Ranking of World Universities

UH Mānoa earned a No. 95–114 ranking in the U.S. and No. 301–400 worldwide in the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities also by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, released in June 2020. This places UH Mānoa in the top 2% out of more than 26,000 universities in the world.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa has also received these notable rankings:

For more, visit the Mānoa Institutional Research Office website.

These rankings are examples of UH Mānoa’s goals of Enhancing Student Success (PDF) and Excellence in Research: Advancing the Research and Creative Work Enterprise (PDF), two of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

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