Honolulu Community College vs University of Hawaii Maui 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 $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Honolulu Community College | University of Hawaii Maui College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,458 | $8,061 |
| Total net cost | $14,916 | $16,122 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,105 | $34,453 |
| Median debt | $7,534 | $13,040 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,016 | -$294,262 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Honolulu Community College or University of Hawaii Maui College?
Honolulu Community College, at $7,458 a year after aid versus $8,061 — a gap of $603 a year, or $1,206 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 University of Hawaii Maui College graduates earn more?
Honolulu Community College graduates report a median $45,105 ten years after entry, $10,652 more than the $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui 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 University of Hawaii Maui College?
Honolulu Community College: its completers carry a median $7,534 in federal loans versus $13,040 at University of Hawaii Maui College, a difference of $5,506. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
28% of students finish at University of Hawaii Maui 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.