Honolulu Community College vs Hawaii Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Honolulu Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,105 against a $14,916 total, vs $34,891 at Hawaii Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Honolulu Community College | Hawaii Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,458 | $8,942 |
| Total net cost | $14,916 | $17,884 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,105 | $34,891 |
| Median debt | $7,534 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,016 | -$287,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Honolulu Community College or Hawaii Community College?
Honolulu Community College, at $7,458 a year after aid versus $8,942 — a gap of $1,484 a year, or $2,968 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Honolulu Community College or Hawaii Community College graduates earn more?
Honolulu Community College graduates report a median $45,105 ten years after entry, $10,214 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, Honolulu Community College or Hawaii Community College?
Honolulu Community College: its completers carry a median $7,534 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Hawaii Community College, a difference of $2,966. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Hawaii Community College, against 25% at Honolulu 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.