Hawaii Community College
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,891 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,942 B+
- 48% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,546
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $811,722.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,546
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Criminal Justice, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Construction Trades
Why students choose Hawaii Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,942 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,891 ten years after enrolling — 14% below the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.89 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Hawaii Community College, located in Hilo, is a welcoming choice for students interested in hands-on fields like Humanities, Criminal Justice, Mechanic & Repair Technology, Construction Trades, and Business & Marketing. With an enrollment of about 1,546, this school suits those who thrive in a close-knit environment and want to pursue practical skills that can lead directly to job opportunities. What stands out here is the supportive atmosphere, which can be crucial for students who may be navigating their education for the first time or looking to change directions.
Looking at life after graduation, students here can expect to earn an average of $34,891 a decade after finishing their programs. This figure provides a sense of the financial landscape students might anticipate as they enter the workforce. While the graduation rate is 32%, this indicates that while some students may take longer to complete their studies or choose different paths, there are still opportunities for upward mobility for those who stick with it.
When it comes to the practicalities of financing education, the net price after aid sits around $8,942, which makes it relatively affordable compared to many options. Graduates leave with a median debt of $10,500, a manageable amount for many. Students who tend to thrive here are those who appreciate a community-focused environment and are ready to dive into their chosen field, whether that’s in the trades or more academic pursuits.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hawaii Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawaii Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,721
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawaii Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawaii Community College is $8,340, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,942. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,964 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,204
- Out-of-State
- $8,340
- Avg Net Price
- $8,942
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,964
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,745
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,929
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,383
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hawaii Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawaii Community College report median earnings of $34,891, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,704
- 8 Years
- $31,686
- 10 Years
- $34,891
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 18%
- 100% (60)
- 18%
- 100% (60)
- 18%
- 100% (60)
- 18%
How Hawaii Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Hawaii Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hawaii Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,942/year ($35,768 total). Graduates earn $34,891 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $847,490 in total earnings — a net gain of $811,722 (23.7× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $35,768
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $847,490
- Net Return
- $811,722
- ROI Multiple
- 23.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,942
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Hawaii Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 29%
- Criminal Justice 15%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 14%
- Construction Trades 8%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Health Professions 6%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Precision Production 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hawaii Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawaii Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawaii Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawaii Community College is $8,340, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,942. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,964 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Hawaii Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawaii Community College report median earnings of $34,891, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Hawaii Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Hawaii Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hawaii Community College.
- Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, CA · Close peer31% grad $33,281 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lassen Community CollegeSusanville, CA · Close peer30% grad $35,994 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Three Rivers CollegePoplar Bluff, MO · Close peer34% grad $32,442 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Schenectady County Community CollegeSchenectady, NY · Close peer31% grad $40,902 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Cisco CollegeCisco, TX · Close peer30% grad $39,092 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield, MA · Close peer26% grad $37,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hawaii Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Hawaii Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note