Head-to-head comparison
Kapiolani Community College vs University of Hawaii Maui College: which has better ROI?
Option A Honolulu, HI
Kapiolani Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,202
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,599
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Kahului, HI
University of Hawaii Maui College
- Net price / year
- $8,061
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,453
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kapiolani Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,599 against a $10,404 total, vs $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kapiolani Community College | University of Hawaii Maui College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,202 | $8,061 |
| Total net cost | $10,404 | $16,122 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,599 | $34,453 |
| Median debt | $9,229 | $13,040 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,624 | -$294,262 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kapiolani Community College or University of Hawaii Maui College?
Kapiolani Community College, at $5,202 a year after aid versus $8,061 — a gap of $2,859 a year, or $5,718 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Kapiolani Community College or University of Hawaii Maui College graduates earn more?
Kapiolani Community College graduates report a median $44,599 ten years after entry, $10,146 more than the $34,453 at University of Hawaii Maui College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Kapiolani Community College or University of Hawaii Maui College?
Kapiolani Community College: its completers carry a median $9,229 in federal loans versus $13,040 at University of Hawaii Maui College, a difference of $3,811. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
28% of students finish at University of Hawaii Maui College, against 22% at Kapiolani Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.