Kauai Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Lihue, Hawaii. It enrolls 716 students (a small, tight-knit 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
65/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes58
Value49
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Kauai 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 Kauai 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 $10,436 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,436
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$3,252
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,388
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,501
Books & Supplies
$1,360
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,462
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,742
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
$10,495
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,324
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,850
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,500
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
$3,50025%percentile
$10,500Medianpercentile
$12,34475%percentile
$20,88690%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 $8,000
↓ $2,500
No Pell $4,500
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $4,576
↓ $5,924
Independent students $9,393
↓ $1,107
Female students $7,000
↓ $3,500
Male students $6,457
↓ $4,043
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Kauai Community College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 Kauai Community College earn a median of $36,868 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,868
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$41,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.5 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Kauai Community College is home to 716 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
716
Part-Time
66%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Other 39.7%284
Asian 25.6%183
Hispanic 18.4%132
White 12.3%88
International 2.0%14
Black 0.8%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Kauai Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeLihue, Hawaii
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Kauai Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
21 distinct programs across
11 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 Kauai Community College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,691
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,683
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
44 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
11
25%
$106,400
Associate Professors
4
9%
$91,896
Assistant Professors
19
43%
$86,210
Instructors
10
23%
$72,609
Pros & Cons of Kauai Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Kauai Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Kauai Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kauai Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Kauai Community College.
Is Kauai Community College hard to get into?
Kauai Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Kauai Community College?
Kauai Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Kauai Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Kauai Community College is $10,436 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Kauai Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,868 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,436 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Kauai Community College known for?
Kauai Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Vehicle Maintenance, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Kauai Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Kauai Community College are $36,868, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Kauai Community College accredited?
Yes. Kauai Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Kauai Community College?
Kauai Community College enrolls 716 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Kauai Community College?
Kauai Community College graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Kauai Community College a public or private college?
Kauai Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Kauai Community College located?
Kauai Community College is located in Lihue, Hawaii.
What programs does Kauai Community College offer?
Kauai Community College offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Vehicle Maintenance, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Kauai Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kauai Community College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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