Top vocational, career, and community colleges for nursing in Hawaii

Community, or vocational, colleges focus on providing students the necessary training to succeed in their chosen vocation. Programs are very specific and designed to get students out the door and into the workplace within two years with a minimum of fuss.

These career colleges offer the perfect alternative to four-year institutions for those not seeking to be academics or engage in heavy research. Some students enter technical schools with a prearranged plan to enter a family or community business upon completion. Others use community college as interim schooling to build up their grades if they were not accepted into university on the first try. Similar credits are usually transferable.

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Vocational colleges in Hawaii offer several fast-track programs, including a two-year associate's degree in registered nursing (ADN) and a 12- to 18-month certificate program in licensed practical nursing (LPN). Hawaii's RNs earn a median annual salary of $85,940 per year, while LPNs earn just under $45,000 annually. Many employers base their pay scale on degrees, so a lengthier degree program can drive a higher salary even for the same position. Luckily, nurses are in high demand statewide across the pay scale. The Department of Veteran Affairs is one of Hawaii's top nursing employers and regularly posts positions for RNs and LPNs alike.

Want to know which vocational colleges in Hawaii are the best at preparing you for the workplace? Our list below can help you get started.