Hawaii Community College vs Kauai Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kauai Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,868 against a $41,744 total, vs $34,891 at Hawaii Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hawaii Community College | Kauai Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,942 | $10,436 |
| Total net cost | $17,884 | $41,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,891 | $36,868 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$287,264 | -$271,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hawaii Community College or Kauai Community College?
Hawaii Community College, at $8,942 a year after aid versus $10,436 — a gap of $1,494 a year, or $23,860 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hawaii Community College or Kauai Community College graduates earn more?
Kauai Community College graduates report a median $36,868 ten years after entry, $1,977 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, Hawaii Community College or Kauai Community College?
Completers at both borrow a median $10,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Kauai Community College, 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.