University of Hawaii Maui 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 $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Hawaii Maui College | Kauai Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,061 | $10,436 |
| Total net cost | $16,122 | $41,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,453 | $36,868 |
| Median debt | $13,040 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$294,262 | -$271,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Hawaii Maui College or Kauai Community College?
University of Hawaii Maui College, at $8,061 a year after aid versus $10,436 — a gap of $2,375 a year, or $25,622 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Hawaii Maui College or Kauai Community College graduates earn more?
Kauai Community College graduates report a median $36,868 ten years after entry, $2,415 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, University of Hawaii Maui College or Kauai Community College?
Kauai Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $13,040 at University of Hawaii Maui College, a difference of $2,540. 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 28% at University of Hawaii Maui 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.