Honolulu Community College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,105 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,458 A-
- 56% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,897
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.2 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $40.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,168,450.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $40.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Honolulu Community College Matters
Honolulu Community College is a public community college in Honolulu, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 1,897
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Construction Trades, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Honolulu 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 $7,458 a year after grants and scholarships — 56% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,105 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $7,534 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.30 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Students at Honolulu Community College can expect to earn an average of $45,105 ten years after graduation. This figure reflects the potential for solid earnings in various fields. With a focus on practical programs, the college prepares students for careers in construction trades, mechanic and repair technology, and more.
The graduation rate stands at 30%, which may indicate challenges in completing degree programs. However, the college serves a diverse student body, including those receiving Pell Grants, which can assist in financial support. While specific mobility rates are not available, the college's offerings can lead to stable employment opportunities, particularly in high-demand sectors.
The net price of attending Honolulu Community College is $7,458, and graduates typically carry a median debt of $7,534. This combination of affordable tuition and manageable debt makes it an accessible choice for many. Students who thrive here are often those seeking hands-on training and a clear path to employment in practical fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Honolulu 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 Honolulu Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 55%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,201
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
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 Honolulu Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Honolulu Community College is $8,310, 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 $7,458. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,672 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,534 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,174
- Out-of-State
- $8,310
- Avg Net Price
- $7,458
- Median Debt
- $7,534
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,672
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,990
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,768
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,959
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Honolulu Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Honolulu Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $45,105, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,127
- 8 Years
- $40,266
- 10 Years
- $45,105
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (39)
- 12%
- 100% (39)
- 12%
- 100% (39)
- 12%
- 100% (39)
- 12%
How Honolulu 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 Honolulu Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Honolulu Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,458/year ($29,832 total). Graduates earn $45,105 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,198,282 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,168,450 (40.2× your investment). The median debt is $7,534, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $29,832
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,198,282
- Net Return
- $1,168,450
- ROI Multiple
- 40.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,458
- Median Debt
- $7,534
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Honolulu Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Construction Trades 34% $88,814 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 17% $52,040 early-career
- Humanities 14%
- Criminal Justice 8% $48,260 early-career
- Precision Production 6%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $14,814 early-career
- Education 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Honolulu Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- C+Blockchain Developer$130,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Honolulu Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Honolulu Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Honolulu Community College is $8,310, 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 $7,458. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,672 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,534 in federal student loans.
Is Honolulu Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $45,105, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Honolulu Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Honolulu Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Honolulu Community College.
- South Central CollegeNorth Mankato, MN · Close peer34% grad $45,068 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sussex County Community CollegeNewton, NJ · Close peer40% grad $44,664 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Eastern Maine Community CollegeBangor, ME · Close peer33% grad $41,704 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minnesota North CollegeHibbing, MN · Close peer42% grad $45,570 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Genesee Community CollegeBatavia, NY · Close peer30% grad $39,674 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Hill CollegeHillsboro, TX · Close peer30% grad $39,572 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Honolulu Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Honolulu Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note