WCC vs. HCC

Deciding between Windward 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
  • WCC Kaneohe, HI
  • HCC Hilo, HI
  • Setting
  • WCC Rural Fringe
  • HCC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WCC 2,765
  • HCC 2,289
  • Type
  • WCC Public 2 Year
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCC
  • HCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCC -
  • HCC -
  • Status
  • WCC Non-profit
  • HCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCC
  • HCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCC $3,194
  • HCC $3,204
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCC $8,330
  • HCC $8,340
  • Room & Board
  • WCC $22,502
  • HCC $11,586
  • Average Net Price
  • WCC $8,532
  • HCC $9,261
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCC $5,646
  • HCC $6,211
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCC 83%
  • HCC 70%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCC 19:1
  • HCC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (95%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (33%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (17%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCC -
  • HCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCC $32,700
  • HCC $30,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCC 36%
  • HCC 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCC $9,500
  • HCC $9,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCC $98
  • HCC $93

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCC 36%
  • HCC 38%
  • % Women
  • WCC 64%
  • HCC 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCC Very High
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • WCC No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • WCC 14%
  • HCC 14%
  • % Asian
  • WCC 12%
  • HCC 18%
  • % Black
  • WCC 1%
  • HCC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCC 19%
  • HCC 15%
  • % Native American
  • WCC 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCC 8%
  • HCC 10%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCC 45%
  • HCC 40%
  • % International
  • WCC 0%
  • HCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCC 0%
  • HCC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCC 98%
  • HCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCC 2%
  • HCC 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Windward Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (2,765 students vs. 2,289 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Windward Community College is located in Kaneohe, HI (Rural Fringe setting); Hawaii Community College is in Hilo, HI (Remote Town setting).
  • Windward 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: Windward Community College 19:1; Hawaii Community College 14:1.

WCC vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCC 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 Windward Community College than HCC ($8,532 vs. $9,261).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hawaii Community College are 48.5% lower than at Windward Community College ($11,586 vs. $22,502).
  • Hawaii Community College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCC (about $10 more per year; $3,204.00 vs. $3,194.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at HCC than at Windward Community College (about $10 more per year; $8,340.00 vs. $8,330.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Windward Community College than at Hawaii Community College (83% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hawaii Community College students is 10% larger than aid received by Windward Community College students ($6,211 vs. $5,646).

WCC vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCC 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 WCC.

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

WCC vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCC 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 Windward Community College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,700 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 WCC graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCC graduates ($93 vs. $98).
  • More HCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCC students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.