Kapiolani Community College
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 21% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,599 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $5,202 A
- 70% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,910
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 51.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,050,849.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 21% — 63% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $51.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Kapiolani Community College Matters
Kapiolani 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
- 3,910
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Kapiolani 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 $5,202 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,599 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $9,229 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.35 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Kapiolani Community College has a net price of just $5,202, making it an affordable option for students seeking higher education in Hawaii. With a small enrollment of 3,910, it offers a more personalized learning environment in the bustling city of Honolulu.
The data indicates that graduates earn a median salary of $44,599 ten years after starting their education. While graduation rates sit at 21%, the college plays a vital role in the local ecosystem by preparing students for various fields such as health professions, business, and culinary arts. However, the low percentage of students receiving Pell Grants (19%) may point to a need for more financial aid resources for low-income students.
Students who thrive at Kapiolani Community College are often those seeking hands-on experience in practical fields. With a median debt of $9,229, graduates can enter the workforce with manageable financial obligations. This college appeals to those looking for a supportive environment and practical programs that lead to stable careers in their chosen industries.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Kapiolani 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 Kapiolani Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,327
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
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 Kapiolani Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kapiolani Community College is $8,420, 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 $5,202. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,068 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,229 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,284
- Out-of-State
- $8,420
- Avg Net Price
- $5,202
- Median Debt
- $9,229
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 6%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,068
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,369
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,367
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,591
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 Kapiolani 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 Kapiolani Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kapiolani Community College report median earnings of $44,599, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,265
- 8 Years
- $41,759
- 10 Years
- $44,599
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 9%
- 100% (60)
- 9%
- 100% (60)
- 9%
- 100% (60)
- 9%
How Kapiolani 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 Kapiolani Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Kapiolani Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,202/year ($20,808 total). Graduates earn $44,599 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,071,657 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,050,849 (51.5× your investment). The median debt is $9,229, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 21% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $20,808
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,071,657
- Net Return
- $1,050,849
- ROI Multiple
- 51.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,202
- Median Debt
- $9,229
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Kapiolani 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.
- Humanities 35%
- Health Professions 22% $82,387 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $39,121 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 9% $37,114 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Legal Studies 2%
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 Kapiolani 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kapiolani Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kapiolani Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kapiolani Community College is $8,420, 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 $5,202. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,068 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,229 in federal student loans.
Is Kapiolani Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kapiolani Community College report median earnings of $44,599, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Kapiolani 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 Kapiolani Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.35, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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 Kapiolani Community College.
- Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA · Close peer20% grad $42,862 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Orange County Community CollegeMiddletown, NY · Close peer24% grad $44,117 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton, TX · Close peer24% grad $44,960 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mercer County Community CollegeWest Windsor, NJ · Close peer23% grad $43,264 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA · Close peer21% grad $46,111 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Hostos Community CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer17% grad $40,485 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Kapiolani 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 Kapiolani Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.35, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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