Windward Community College
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,439 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,169 B+
- 52% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,159
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 31.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $31.5 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Affordable Colleges in Hawaii.
Every $1 spent returns $31.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $996,596.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 30% — 47% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $31.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Windward Community College Matters
Windward Community College is a public community college in Kaneohe, HI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,159
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Windward 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 $8,169 a year after grants and scholarships — 52% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,439 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.42 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Only 30% of students graduate from Windward Community College. This statistic highlights the challenges many face in completing their degrees. However, the college remains a vital resource for the local community in Kaneohe, HI, serving a diverse student body and emphasizing programs in the humanities and visual & performing arts.
According to available data, graduates from Windward can expect to earn about $38,439 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility rates are not published, this figure indicates a modest return on investment for students. The economic landscape reflects the college's focus on accessibility and community engagement, even as graduation rates suggest room for improvement in student support.
At Windward, the net price for attending is $8,169, and the median debt is relatively low at $9,500. This makes it a financially viable option for many students. Those who thrive here often seek a supportive environment focused on arts and humanities. The college's small enrollment of 1,159 ensures more personalized attention, which can help students navigate their academic paths more effectively.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Windward 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 Windward Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Windward Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,907
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.74
- 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 Windward Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Windward Community College is $8,330, 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 $8,169. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,750 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,194
- Out-of-State
- $8,330
- Avg Net Price
- $8,169
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,750
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,123
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,900
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,794
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 Windward 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 Windward Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Windward Community College report median earnings of $38,439, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,631
- 8 Years
- $35,365
- 10 Years
- $38,439
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (16)
- 8%
- 100% (16)
- 8%
- 100% (16)
- 8%
- 100% (16)
- 8%
How Windward 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 Windward Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Windward Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,169/year ($32,676 total). Graduates earn $38,439 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,029,272 in total earnings — a net gain of $996,596 (31.5× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, 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)
- $32,676
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,029,272
- Net Return
- $996,596
- ROI Multiple
- 31.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,169
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- 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 Windward 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Windward Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- CCollege Professor$84,380 · 8% growthResilient 96
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Graphic Designer$58,910 · 3% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Photographer$40,760 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Windward Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Windward Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Windward Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Windward Community College is $8,330, 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 $8,169. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,750 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Windward Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Windward Community College report median earnings of $38,439, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Windward 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 Windward Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Windward Community College.
- Flathead Valley Community CollegeKalispell, MT · Close peer28% grad $38,520 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cayuga County Community CollegeAuburn, NY · Close peer32% grad $38,709 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY Corning Community CollegeCorning, NY · Close peer33% grad $38,817 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA · Close peer32% grad $39,098 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeCoos Bay, OR · Close peer39% grad $38,349 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Close peer30% grad $35,831 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Windward 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 Windward Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note