Does the University of Hawaii prefer the SAT or ACT for admission decisions?

The University of Hawaiʻi does not prefer the SAT over the ACT, or the ACT over the SAT, for admission decisions. UH generally treats the two exams equally and accepts either test, using official concordance tables when needed to compare scores. For applicants who choose to submit scores, the better option is usually the test on which you perform stronger, not one specific exam the university likes more.

For the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and other UH campuses, admissions review is based more on your overall academic record, especially coursework and GPA, than on a supposed SAT versus ACT preference. In practice, that means you should focus on which test better matches your strengths. If you read and write faster and prefer evidence-based verbal sections, the SAT may feel better. If you do well with timing, straightforward math, and science-style data interpretation, the ACT may suit you more.

A practical approach is to compare your practice test results and submit the stronger score if the campus you apply to accepts test scores as part of review or placement. Check the specific campus admissions page for the most current policy, because test requirements can vary by campus and by year, but there is no general University of Hawaiʻi admissions advantage to choosing SAT instead of ACT.