Honolulu Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It enrolls 1,897 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes13
Value76
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Honolulu Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Honolulu Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,458 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,458
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
4%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$3,174
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,310
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,501
Books & Supplies
$1,360
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,462
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,151
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,672
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,990
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,768
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,031
Over $110,000
$12,959
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,48825%percentile
$7,534Medianpercentile
$10,19375%percentile
$16,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,506
↓ $1,028
No Pell $5,038
↓ $2,496
Dependent students $4,500
↓ $3,034
Independent students $8,000
↑ $466
Female students $6,500
↓ $1,034
Male students $5,500
↓ $2,034
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, close to what completers borrow ($7,534) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
18% of full-time students who enrolled at Honolulu Community College graduate within six years, and 55% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
18%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
55%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Honolulu Community College earn a median of $45,105 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,105
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,300, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.0 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Honolulu Community College is home to 1,897 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,897
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Other 39.2%743
Asian 34.5%655
Hispanic 14.8%281
White 7.4%141
Black 2.5%48
International 0.7%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Honolulu Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityHonolulu, Hawaii
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
34%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Honolulu Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Honolulu Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,218
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
72 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
19
26%
$107,053
Associate Professors
18
25%
$91,467
Assistant Professors
27
38%
$78,608
Instructors
8
11%
$65,163
Pros & Cons of Honolulu Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Honolulu Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Honolulu Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Honolulu Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Honolulu Community College.
Is Honolulu Community College hard to get into?
Honolulu Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Honolulu Community College?
Honolulu Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Honolulu Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Honolulu Community College is $7,458 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Honolulu Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,105 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,458 per year. That's roughly 6.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Honolulu Community College known for?
Honolulu Community College is best known for its programs in Construction Trades, Liberal Arts, Fire Protection. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Honolulu Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Honolulu Community College are $45,105, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Honolulu Community College accredited?
Yes. Honolulu Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Honolulu Community College?
Honolulu Community College enrolls 1,897 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Honolulu Community College?
Honolulu Community College graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Honolulu Community College a public or private college?
Honolulu Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Honolulu Community College located?
Honolulu Community College is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
What programs does Honolulu Community College offer?
Honolulu Community College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Construction Trades, Liberal Arts, Fire Protection.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Honolulu Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Honolulu Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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