Windward Community College vs Kauai Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Windward Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,439 against a $16,338 total, vs $36,868 at Kauai Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Windward Community College | Kauai Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,169 | $10,436 |
| Total net cost | $16,338 | $41,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,439 | $36,868 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$214,758 | -$271,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Windward Community College or Kauai Community College?
Windward Community College, at $8,169 a year after aid versus $10,436 — a gap of $2,267 a year, or $25,406 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Windward Community College or Kauai Community College graduates earn more?
Windward Community College graduates report a median $38,439 ten years after entry, $1,571 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, Windward Community College or Kauai Community College?
Windward Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Kauai Community College, a difference of $1,000. 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 31% at Windward 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.