KCC vs. HCC

Deciding between Kauai 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.

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KCC Lihue, HI
  • HCC Hilo, HI
  • Setting
  • KCC Rural Fringe
  • HCC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KCC 1,335
  • 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 $3,252
  • HCC $3,204
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KCC $8,388
  • HCC $8,340
  • Room & Board
  • KCC $22,501
  • HCC $11,586
  • Average Net Price
  • KCC $9,771
  • HCC $9,261
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KCC $6,209
  • HCC $6,211
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KCC 77%
  • 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 11:1
  • HCC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KCC
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (9%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (9%)
  • 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 $34,500
  • HCC $30,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KCC 53%
  • HCC 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KCC $9,500
  • HCC $9,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KCC $98
  • HCC $93

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KCC 38%
  • HCC 38%
  • % Women
  • KCC 62%
  • HCC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KCC Very High
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • KCC No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • KCC 17%
  • HCC 14%
  • % Asian
  • KCC 29%
  • HCC 18%
  • % Black
  • KCC 0%
  • HCC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • KCC 10%
  • HCC 15%
  • % Native American
  • KCC 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KCC 7%
  • HCC 10%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KCC 34%
  • HCC 40%
  • % International
  • KCC 1%
  • HCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KCC 0%
  • HCC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KCC 99%
  • HCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KCC 1%
  • 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 Yes
  • HCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • KCC Yes
  • HCC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Hawaii Community College is larger than KCC based on total student enrollment (2,289 students vs. 1,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kauai Community College is located in Lihue, HI (Rural Fringe setting); Hawaii Community College is in Hilo, HI (Remote Town setting).
  • Kauai 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: Kauai Community College 11:1; 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 Hawaii Community College than KCC ($9,261 vs. $9,771).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hawaii Community College are 48.5% lower than at Kauai Community College ($11,586 vs. $22,501).
  • Kauai Community College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $48 more per year; $3,252.00 vs. $3,204.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at KCC than at Hawaii Community College (about $48 more per year; $8,388.00 vs. $8,340.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kauai Community College than at Hawaii Community College (77% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hawaii Community College students is 0% larger than aid received by Kauai Community College students ($6,211 vs. $6,209).

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 Kauai Community College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,500 vs. $30,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hawaii Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than KCC graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KCC graduates ($93 vs. $98).
  • More KCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.