HCC vs. KCC

Deciding between Honolulu Community College and Kauai Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC Honolulu, HI
  • KCC Lihue, HI
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • KCC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 3,342
  • KCC 1,335
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • KCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • KCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • KCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $3,174
  • KCC $3,252
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $8,310
  • KCC $8,388
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $22,501
  • KCC $22,501
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $7,870
  • KCC $9,771
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $5,397
  • KCC $6,209
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 50%
  • KCC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Admitted
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HCC Open
  • KCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • HCC Open
  • KCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • HCC Unavailable
  • KCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • ACT Range
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • SAT Range
  • HCC
  • KCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HCC Open admission
  • KCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • HCC Aug 8, 2027
  • KCC Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 18:1
  • KCC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Engineering Technology (28%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Precision Production Trades (6%)
  • KCC
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (9%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • KCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $37,300
  • KCC $34,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 48%
  • KCC 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $8,000
  • KCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $82
  • KCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 51%
  • KCC 38%
  • % Women
  • HCC 49%
  • KCC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • KCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • KCC No
  • % White
  • HCC 9%
  • KCC 17%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 41%
  • KCC 29%
  • % Black
  • HCC 2%
  • KCC 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 10%
  • KCC 10%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • KCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 8%
  • KCC 7%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 29%
  • KCC 34%
  • % International
  • HCC 1%
  • KCC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 1%
  • KCC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 96%
  • KCC 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 4%
  • KCC 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • HCC No
  • KCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • HCC No
  • KCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • HCC No
  • KCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • HCC No
  • KCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • HCC Yes
  • KCC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Honolulu Community College in Honolulu, HI with Kauai Community College in Lihue, HI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Honolulu Community College is larger than KCC based on total student enrollment (3,342 students vs. 1,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Honolulu Community College is located in Honolulu, HI (Large City setting); Kauai Community College is in Lihue, HI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Honolulu Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Kauai Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Honolulu Community College 18:1; Kauai Community College 11:1.

HCC vs. KCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or KCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Honolulu Community College than KCC ($7,870 vs. $9,771).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Honolulu Community College and KCC ($22,501).
  • Kauai Community College is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $78 more per year; $3,252.00 vs. $3,174.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at KCC than at Honolulu Community College (about $78 more per year; $8,388.00 vs. $8,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kauai Community College than at Honolulu Community College (77% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kauai Community College students is 15% larger than aid received by Honolulu Community College students ($6,209 vs. $5,397).

HCC vs. KCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or KCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KCC and HCC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCC - Open admission; KCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HCC Aug 8, 2027; KCC Aug 1, 2027.

HCC vs. KCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and KCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Honolulu Community College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than KCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Honolulu Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than KCC graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KCC graduates ($82 vs. $98).
  • More KCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.