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Kapiolani Community College

Honolulu, HI·Public·3,910 students
Last updated: March 21, 2026

A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here. a public school with 3,910 students.

N/A
Accept
3,910
Students
$5,202
Net Price
21%
Grad Rate
$43,200
Earnings
10 yr
$9,229
Debt

About This School

Kapiolani Community College is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii with approximately 3,910 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $5,202 per year. The graduation rate is 21%, and the typical graduate earns $43,200 within 10 years of enrollment.

The University of Hawaiʻi Kapiʻolani Community College is a public community college in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. It is part of the University of Hawaiʻi System and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

Worth considering if you're looking for an affordable path into the workforce — at just $5,194/year in net cost and a median debt of only $6,352 at graduation, this Honolulu community college keeps financial risk low. The $43,200 median earnings at 10 years out is modest but reasonable for an associate's-level starting point, especially if you plan to transfer to a four-year school or enter fields like healthcare, culinary arts, or hospitality that are well-suited to Hawaii's economy. Just go in with a clear plan — the value here depends heavily on what you do next.

Founded
1946
Setting
Large city
Avg Faculty Salary
$10,327

Popular Programs

Health Professions21%
Business & Marketing11%
Computer Science4%

Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.

Notable Alumni

Jacob Batalon

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

SAT Scores

Average CompositeN/A

ACT Scores

Midpoint CompositeN/A

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$3,284
Out-of-State Tuition
$8,420
Avg Net Price
$5,202
after aid

Net Price by Family Income

Under $30k$4,068
$30–48k$5,369
$48–75k$6,367
$75–110k$7,820
$110k+$10,591

Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants19%
Median debt at graduation$9,229

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
21%
within 6 years
Retention Rate
N/A
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$43,200
after enrollment
Median Debt
$9,229
at graduation

Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender

Male graduates$38,600
Female graduates$35,000

Gap: 9% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.

What Each Major Actually Earns

Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.

Kapiolani Community College graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($112,628 vs $80,813 nationally), and most below it in Culinary Arts and Related Services ($36,663 vs $39,605).

MajorGradsHereNationalDiff
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities308$45,065$44,125+$940
Natural Sciences59$58,516$48,630+$9,886
Culinary Arts and Related Services50$36,663$39,605−$2,942
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing44$112,628$80,813+$31,815
Hospitality Administration/Management37$47,531$41,099+$6,432
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions35$83,241$65,389+$17,852

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$9,229
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$36,500
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$43,200
after enrollment
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio: 4.7x

Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White9%
Black2%
Hispanic/Latino13%
Asian38%
Two or more races24%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander5%
International9%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,910 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Kapiolani Community College

4303 Diamond Head Road

Honolulu, HI 96816-4421

View on Google Maps →

Schools Like This in Hawaii

Browse all Hawaii schools →

See How Colleges Compare

Kapiolani Community College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Kapiolani Community College cost?

The average net price at Kapiolani Community College is about $5,202 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.

What is the graduation rate at Kapiolani Community College?

Kapiolani Community College has a graduation rate of 21%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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