Kapiolani Community College vs Kauai Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kapiolani Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,599 against a $10,404 total, vs $36,868 at Kauai Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kapiolani Community College | Kauai Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,202 | $10,436 |
| Total net cost | $10,404 | $41,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,599 | $36,868 |
| Median debt | $9,229 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,624 | -$271,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kapiolani Community College or Kauai Community College?
Kapiolani Community College, at $5,202 a year after aid versus $10,436 — a gap of $5,234 a year, or $31,340 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kapiolani Community College or Kauai Community College graduates earn more?
Kapiolani Community College graduates report a median $44,599 ten years after entry, $7,731 more than the $36,868 at Kauai 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, Kapiolani Community College or Kauai Community College?
Kapiolani Community College: its completers carry a median $9,229 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Kauai Community College, a difference of $1,271. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Kauai Community College, against 22% at Kapiolani 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.