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.
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 43%
- Health Professions 21%
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Culinary & Personal Services 10%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Legal Studies 2%
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