Chaminade University of Honolulu vs Hawaii Community College: which has better ROI?
Chaminade University of Honolulu has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,424 in 29 years versus not at all at Hawaii Community College, on median earnings of $52,343 vs $34,891 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chaminade University of Honolulu | Hawaii Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,856 | $8,942 |
| Total net cost | $115,424 | $17,884 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,343 | $34,891 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $10,500 |
| Payback | 29 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$35,764 | -$287,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chaminade University of Honolulu or Hawaii Community College?
Hawaii Community College, at $8,942 a year after aid versus $28,856 — a gap of $19,914 a year, or $97,540 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Chaminade University of Honolulu or Hawaii Community College graduates earn more?
Chaminade University of Honolulu graduates report a median $52,343 ten years after entry, $17,452 more than the $34,891 at Hawaii Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Chaminade University of Honolulu or Hawaii Community College?
Hawaii Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Chaminade University of Honolulu, a difference of $12,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Chaminade University of Honolulu, against 33% at Hawaii Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.