Kauai Community College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,868 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,436 B
- 39% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 716
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $845,696.
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 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Kauai Community College Matters
Kauai Community College is a public college in Lihue, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 716
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Health Professions
Why students choose Kauai 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 $10,436 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,868 ten years after enrolling — 10% 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 1.13 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Kauai Community College has a net price of $10,436, making it a financially accessible option for many students. With a small enrollment of 716, it offers a tight-knit community atmosphere. This affordability can be a key factor for students looking to minimize debt while pursuing their education.
The earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment stand at $36,868. While the graduation rate is 37%, the school serves a diverse student body, including a notable 25% of students receiving Pell Grants. This indicates a commitment to supporting lower-income students and highlights the college's role in fostering economic mobility, even though specific mobility metrics are not available.
Students who thrive at Kauai Community College are often those drawn to practical programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Construction Trades. The median debt of $10,500 is manageable, and the college’s focus on career-oriented education helps students transition into the workforce successfully. This makes it an appealing choice for those looking for a community-oriented college experience with a focus on trades and applied learning.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Kauai 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 Kauai Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Lihue, Hawaii, Kauai Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,332
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 Kauai Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kauai Community College is $8,388, 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 $10,436. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,495 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,252
- Out-of-State
- $8,388
- Avg Net Price
- $10,436
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,495
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,324
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,850
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 Kauai 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 Kauai Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kauai Community College report median earnings of $36,868, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,592
- 8 Years
- $34,257
- 10 Years
- $36,868
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (18)
- 17%
- 100% (18)
- 17%
- 100% (18)
- 17%
- 100% (18)
- 17%
How Kauai 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 Kauai Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Kauai Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,436/year ($41,744 total). Graduates earn $36,868 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $887,440 in total earnings — a net gain of $845,696 (21.3× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,744
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $887,440
- Net Return
- $845,696
- ROI Multiple
- 21.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,436
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Kauai 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.
- Business & Marketing 32% $45,495 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 17%
- Humanities 16%
- Health Professions 13% $64,948 early-career
- Construction Trades 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5% $29,935 early-career
- Education 4%
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 Kauai 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kauai Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Lihue, Hawaii, Kauai Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kauai Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kauai Community College is $8,388, 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 $10,436. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,495 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Kauai Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kauai Community College report median earnings of $36,868, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Kauai Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Kauai Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Kauai Community College.
- Otero CollegeLa Junta, CO · Close peer37% grad $39,018 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Frank Phillips CollegeBorger, TX · Close peer39% grad $37,179 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- George Stone Technical CollegePensacola, FL · Close peer43% grad $35,234 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Fort Scott Community CollegeFort Scott, KS · Close peer34% grad $37,213 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Nicolet Area Technical CollegeRhinelander, WI · Close peer45% grad $38,643 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arkansas State University Three RiversMalvern, AR · Close peer30% grad $37,374 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Kauai Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Kauai Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note