Head-to-head comparison
University of Hawaii at Manoa vs Kapiolani Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Honolulu, HI
University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Net price / year
- $15,664
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,624
- Payback
- 6.8 yrs
Option B Honolulu, HI
Kapiolani Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,202
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,599
- Payback
- No payback
University of Hawaii at Manoa has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,656 in 6.8 years versus not at all at Kapiolani Community College, on median earnings of $57,624 vs $44,599 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Kapiolani Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,664 | $5,202 |
| Total net cost | $62,656 | $10,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,624 | $44,599 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $9,229 |
| Payback | 6.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $122,624 | -$85,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Hawaii at Manoa or Kapiolani Community College?
Kapiolani Community College, at $5,202 a year after aid versus $15,664 — a gap of $10,462 a year, or $52,252 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa or Kapiolani Community College graduates earn more?
University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates report a median $57,624 ten years after entry, $13,025 more than the $44,599 at Kapiolani Community 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, University of Hawaii at Manoa or Kapiolani Community College?
Kapiolani Community College: its completers carry a median $9,229 in federal loans versus $18,500 at University of Hawaii at Manoa, a difference of $9,271. 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?
64% of students finish at University of Hawaii at Manoa, 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.