KCC vs. HCC

Deciding between Kapiolani Community College and Hawaii 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.

Kapiolani Community College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • KCC Honolulu, HI
  • HCC Hilo, HI
  • Setting
  • KCC Large City
  • HCC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KCC 5,914
  • HCC 2,289
  • Type
  • KCC Public 2 Year
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KCC
  • HCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KCC -
  • HCC -
  • Status
  • KCC Non-profit
  • HCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KCC
  • HCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KCC $3,284
  • HCC $3,204
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KCC $8,420
  • HCC $8,340
  • Room & Board
  • KCC $22,501
  • HCC $11,586
  • Average Net Price
  • KCC $6,034
  • HCC $9,261
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KCC $4,900
  • HCC $6,211
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KCC 61%
  • HCC 70%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KCC 15:1
  • HCC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (45%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (9%)
    • Legal Professions (2%)
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (33%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (17%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KCC -
  • HCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KCC $40,400
  • HCC $30,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KCC 55%
  • HCC 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KCC $10,500
  • HCC $9,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KCC $108
  • HCC $93

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KCC 35%
  • HCC 38%
  • % Women
  • KCC 65%
  • HCC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KCC Very High
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • KCC No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • KCC 9%
  • HCC 14%
  • % Asian
  • KCC 42%
  • HCC 18%
  • % Black
  • KCC 1%
  • HCC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • KCC 9%
  • HCC 15%
  • % Native American
  • KCC 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KCC 3%
  • HCC 10%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KCC 23%
  • HCC 40%
  • % International
  • KCC 12%
  • HCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KCC 0%
  • HCC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KCC 84%
  • HCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KCC 4%
  • HCC 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kapiolani Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (5,914 students vs. 2,289 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kapiolani Community College is located in Honolulu, HI (Large City setting); Hawaii Community College is in Hilo, HI (Remote Town setting).
  • Kapiolani Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Hawaii Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kapiolani Community College 15:1; Hawaii Community College 14:1.

KCC vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KCC or HCC? 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 Kapiolani Community College than HCC ($6,034 vs. $9,261).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hawaii Community College are 48.5% lower than at Kapiolani Community College ($11,586 vs. $22,501).
  • Kapiolani Community College is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $80 more per year; $3,284.00 vs. $3,204.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at KCC than at Hawaii Community College (about $80 more per year; $8,420.00 vs. $8,340.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hawaii Community College than at Kapiolani Community College (70% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hawaii Community College students is 26.8% larger than aid received by Kapiolani Community College students ($6,211 vs. $4,900).

KCC vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KCC or HCC? 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 HCC and KCC.

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

KCC vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KCC and HCC? 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 Kapiolani Community College earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $30,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hawaii Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than KCC graduates ($9,000 vs. $10,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KCC graduates ($93 vs. $108).
  • More KCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 36%)

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.