Public Associate Strong 71/100

Leeward Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Pearl City, Hawaii

About Leeward Community College

Leeward Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Pearl City, Hawaii. It enrolls 3,438 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
24.4%
Net Price
$5,137
Median Earnings (10yr)
$39,899
Enrollment
3,438
Student : Faculty
21:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 46
Value 87
Affordability 47
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Leeward 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 Leeward 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 $5,137 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$5,137
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
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)
$3,214
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,350
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,501
Books & Supplies
$1,360
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,462
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,507

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
    $4,156
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,596
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $5,206
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $7,798
  • Over $110,000
    $11,554

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.

$1,510
10% percentile
$2,559
25% percentile
$8,970
Median percentile
$9,500
75% percentile
$18,081
90% 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 $6,500 ↓ $2,470
No Pell $5,000 ↓ $3,970
Dependent students $4,980 ↓ $3,990
Independent students $7,785 ↓ $1,185
Female students $5,500 ↓ $3,470
Male students $5,500 ↓ $3,470
Pell recipients: 18.4% (1,653 students)No Pell: 14.2% (1,272 students)Dependent students: 14.1% (1,267 students)Independent students: 22.1% (1,980 students)Female students: 15.6% (1,399 students)Male students: 15.6% (1,399 students)Overall Median$8,970
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,086, less than completers ($8,970), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

24% of full-time students who enrolled at Leeward Community College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
24%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 Leeward Community College earn a median of $39,899 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,899
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$33,000$35,000$37,000$39,000$41,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$36,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$41,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $5,200, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 12.7 pts across 6 years
50.5%1yr62.2%3yr63.3%5yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Leeward Community College is home to 3,438 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 53% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
3,438
Part-Time
53%
First-Generation
45%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Other 37.5% 1,290
Asian 34.4% 1,182
Hispanic 17.3% 593
White 6.8% 235
Black 2.1% 72
International 1.4% 48
Other: 37.5% (1,290 students)Asian: 34.4% (1,182 students)Hispanic: 17.3% (593 students)White: 6.8% (235 students)Black: 2.1% (72 students)International: 1.4% (48 students)Total3,438

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Leeward Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Pearl City, Hawaii
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Leeward Community College offers a varied set of programs: 26 distinct programs across 12 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.

1 Program
4 Programs
5 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Leeward Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,267
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,928
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

117 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 36 31% $107,889
Associate Professors 26 22% $88,933
Assistant Professors 39 33% $80,301
Instructors 16 14% $67,283

Pros & Cons of Leeward Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Leeward 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
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, Leeward 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 Leeward Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Leeward Community College.

Is Leeward Community College hard to get into?
Leeward Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Leeward Community College?
Leeward Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Leeward Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Leeward Community College is $5,137 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Leeward Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,899 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,137 per year. That's roughly 7.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Leeward Community College known for?
Leeward Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Information Systems, Teaching Assistance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Leeward Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Leeward Community College are $39,899, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Leeward Community College accredited?
Yes. Leeward Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Leeward Community College?
Leeward Community College enrolls 3,438 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Leeward Community College?
Leeward Community College graduates 24% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Leeward Community College a public or private college?
Leeward Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Leeward Community College located?
Leeward Community College is located in Pearl City, Hawaii.
What programs does Leeward Community College offer?
Leeward Community College offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Information Systems, Teaching Assistance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Leeward Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Leeward Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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