Kapolei, Hawaii Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Kapolei, Hawaii shows: median public in-state tuition $12,072 (+119.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $52,075 (-4.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $23,026 (+71.4% vs U.S.) 2,543 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 2,543 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,072 (+119.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $52,075 (-4.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.6% (-1.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $10,327 (+3.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $23,026 (+71.4% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 24.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 78.0%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Kapolei, Hawaii—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Hawaii and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Kapolei vs Hawaii & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapolei, Hawaii | $12,072 | $10,327 | $23,026 | 24.8% | 2,543 |
| Hawaii (state median) | $3,268 | $8,556 | $11,750 | 42.0% | 41,568 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Kapolei, Hawaii vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapolei, Hawaii | $52,075 | 86.6% | 78.0% | 4.7% | — | 71.5% | 0.28 |
| Hawaii (state median) | $52,209 | 82.5% | 73.1% | 5.3% | — | 74.7% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Hawaii (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapolei, Hawaii | $12,072 | $10,327 | $23,026 | 24.8% | 2,543 | $52,075 | 86.6% |
| Honolulu | $13,580 | $20,970 | $13,000 | 50.4% | 25,358 | $57,624 | 85.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 49.5%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.6%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 most selective colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 95.3%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $52,079, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $69,931, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,352, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,190, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,075, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $189,690, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $10,327, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Top 10 colleges in Kapolei, Hawaii by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 78.0%, University of Hawaii-West Oahu
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
In-state tuition: Kapolei, Hawaii vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Kapolei, Hawaii median in-state tuition is $12,072, +119.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Kapolei, Hawaii vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Kapolei, Hawaii is $23,026 (+71.4% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Kapolei, Hawaii vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Kapolei, Hawaii center around $52,075 (-4.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Kapolei, Hawaii vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.6% at the median Kapolei, Hawaii campus (-1.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Kapolei, Hawaii median public in-state tuition is $12,072, about +119.0% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +267.6%.
Median graduate debt is $23,026 (+71.4% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Kapolei, Hawaii are $52,075, about -4.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 86.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-1.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 78.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Hawaii-West Oahu (86.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Kapolei, Hawaii is 24.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Kapolei?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Kapolei, Hawaii with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Kapolei?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Kapolei is $12,072 and median net price is $10,327. For Hawaii overall, medians are $3,268 and $8,556; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Kapolei?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Kapolei is $52,075 vs $52,209 for Hawaii and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Kapolei colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Kapolei is $23,026 vs $11,750 for Hawaii and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Kapolei?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of Hawaii-West Oahu (graduation) and University of Hawaii-West Oahu (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Kapolei?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Kapolei, Hawaii, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Hawaii college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON