LCC vs. HCC

Deciding between Leeward 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
  • LCC Pearl City, HI
  • HCC Hilo, HI
  • Setting
  • LCC Large Suburban
  • HCC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • LCC 6,471
  • HCC 2,289
  • Type
  • LCC Public 2 Year
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Status
  • LCC Non-profit
  • HCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LCC
  • HCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LCC $3,214
  • HCC $3,204
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LCC $8,350
  • HCC $8,340
  • Room & Board
  • LCC $22,501
  • HCC $11,586
  • Average Net Price
  • LCC $6,320
  • HCC $9,261
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LCC $5,421
  • HCC $6,211
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LCC 65%
  • HCC 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Admitted
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LCC Open
  • HCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • LCC Open
  • HCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • LCC Unavailable
  • HCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • ACT Range
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • SAT Range
  • LCC
  • HCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LCC Open admission
  • HCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • LCC Jul 15, 2027
  • HCC Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LCC 21:1
  • HCC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (68%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communications Technology (5%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (4%)
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (33%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (17%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LCC -
  • HCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LCC $36,000
  • HCC $30,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LCC 43%
  • HCC 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LCC $6,793
  • HCC $9,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LCC $70
  • HCC $93

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LCC 39%
  • HCC 38%
  • % Women
  • LCC 61%
  • HCC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LCC Very High
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • LCC No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • LCC 8%
  • HCC 14%
  • % Asian
  • LCC 34%
  • HCC 18%
  • % Black
  • LCC 3%
  • HCC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • LCC 14%
  • HCC 15%
  • % Native American
  • LCC 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LCC 6%
  • HCC 10%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LCC 33%
  • HCC 40%
  • % International
  • LCC 1%
  • HCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LCC 0%
  • HCC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LCC 98%
  • HCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LCC 1%
  • HCC 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Leeward Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (6,471 students vs. 2,289 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Leeward Community College is located in Pearl City, HI (Large Suburban setting); Hawaii Community College is in Hilo, HI (Remote Town setting).
  • Leeward 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: Leeward Community College 21:1; Hawaii Community College 14:1.

LCC vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LCC 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 Leeward Community College than HCC ($6,320 vs. $9,261).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hawaii Community College are 48.5% lower than at Leeward Community College ($11,586 vs. $22,501).
  • Leeward Community College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $10 more per year; $3,214.00 vs. $3,204.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at LCC than at Hawaii Community College (about $10 more per year; $8,350.00 vs. $8,340.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hawaii Community College than at Leeward Community College (70% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hawaii Community College students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Leeward Community College students ($6,211 vs. $5,421).

LCC vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LCC 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 LCC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LCC - Open admission; HCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LCC Jul 15, 2027; HCC Aug 1, 2027.

LCC vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LCC 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 Leeward Community College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $30,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Leeward Community College graduates have a $2,207 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($6,793 vs. $9,000).
  • Among borrowers, LCC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($70 vs. $93).
  • More LCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.