Kapiolani Community College vs University of Hawaii at Hilo: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Hawaii at Hilo comes closer — median earnings $47,856 against a $47,424 total, vs $44,599 at Kapiolani Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kapiolani Community College | University of Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,202 | $11,856 |
| Total net cost | $10,404 | $47,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,599 | $47,856 |
| Median debt | $9,229 | $20,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,624 | -$57,504 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kapiolani Community College or University of Hawaii at Hilo?
Kapiolani Community College, at $5,202 a year after aid versus $11,856 — a gap of $6,654 a year, or $37,020 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 University of Hawaii at Hilo graduates earn more?
University of Hawaii at Hilo graduates report a median $47,856 ten years after entry, $3,257 more than the $44,599 at Kapiolani 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 University of Hawaii at Hilo?
Kapiolani Community College: its completers carry a median $9,229 in federal loans versus $20,500 at University of Hawaii at Hilo, a difference of $11,271. 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 University of Hawaii at Hilo, 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.