Hawaii Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Hawaii: 12 trade and vocational campuses (6 trade schools, 6 community colleges) median net price $9,652 (-32.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $38,439 (+9.9% vs U.S.) median completion rate 47.5% employment-outcome proxy 78.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 12 campuses (6 trade schools, 6 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 14,754 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,439 (+9.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 78.3% (-2.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $9,652 (-32.1% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-2.1% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $10,028. Debt rank: #16 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 6
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 47.5%
- Earnings rank: #15 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #41 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #16 nationally of 52; #3 in Far West of 6 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Hawaii include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 12 campuses in this profile (6 trade schools, 6 community colleges), with about 14,754 students enrolled, and median net price near $9,652. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Far West medians.
Hawaii vs regional & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | — | $9,652 | $9,500 | 47.5% | 14,754 |
| Far West (region median) | — | $14,386 | $10,028 | 70.7% | 1,508,306 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | $38,439 | 78.3% | N/A | 12.3% | — | 60.6% | 0.25 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Hawaii vs peer states (Far West region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (HI) | N/A | $9,652 | $9,500 | 47.5% | 14,754 | $38,439 | 78.3% |
| Alaska (AK) | N/A | $16,392 | $16,644 | 84.4% | 4,004 | $44,008 | 81.9% |
| Nevada (NV) | N/A | $21,847 | $8,812 | 73.2% | 47,603 | $32,493 | 80.6% |
| Oregon (OR) | N/A | $12,380 | $10,750 | 63.9% | 65,703 | $36,845 | 78.8% |
| Washington (WA) | N/A | $11,010 | $10,556 | 73.7% | 107,702 | $43,499 | 79.3% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Hawaii
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 3 | $32,058 | 79.0% | N/A | 5.0% | — | 54.8% |
| Public | 7 | $38,439 | 78.3% | N/A | 12.5% | — | 62.2% |
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 86.5%, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy
Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 83.8%, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 82.1%, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 47.5%, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 35.4%, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
-
Rank 6, Completion Rate, 32.7%, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
-
Rank 7, Completion Rate, 31.4%, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 24.8%, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
-
Rank 9, Completion Rate, 22.2%, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 85.1%, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
-
Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 84.5%, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
-
Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 82.5%, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
-
Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 80.2%, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
-
Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 78.3%, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
-
Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 76.6%, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 74.8%, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 74.2%, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 72.8%, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,265, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
-
Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,127, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
-
Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,803, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
-
Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,997, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,592, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $30,631, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $29,704, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $28,263, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $17,489, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,759, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,266, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
-
Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,521, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
-
Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,393, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
-
Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,365, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
-
Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,257, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $32,572, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,686, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $17,168, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,105, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,599, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,899, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,880, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
-
Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,439, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,868, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,891, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
-
Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,453, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $25,235, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Top 9 trade schools in Hawaii by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $192,232, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $183,183, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $165,480, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $162,722, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $156,018, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $151,736, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $138,158, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $130,955, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $85,184, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Hawaii (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $5,137, Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $5,202, Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $7,458, Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $8,061, University of Hawaii Maui College
University of Hawaii Maui College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $8,169, Windward Community College
Windward Community College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $8,942, Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $11,824, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy
Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy
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Rank 8, Net Price, $10,436, Kauai Community College
Kauai Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $20,970, Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
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Rank 10, Net Price, $30,107, Hawaii Medical College
Hawaii Medical College
Student debt: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Hawaii is $9,500 (-2.0% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $10,028. Rank: #16 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): Hawaii vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Hawaii center around $38,439 (+9.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Hawaii vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 78.3% at the median Hawaii campus (-2.7 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
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-2.0% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -5.3% vs the Far West regional median of $10,028). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #16 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Far West of 6 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Hawaii are $38,439, about +9.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 78.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 80.9% (-2.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 12.3% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 60.6% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Hawaii ranks earnings #15 and employment proxy #41 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Hawaii Medical College (85.1%), Honolulu Community College (84.5%), Kapiolani Community College (82.5%), Leeward Community College (80.2%), Kauai Community College (78.3%), Windward Community College (76.6%), Hawaii Community College (74.8%), University of Hawaii Maui College (74.2%), Hawaii Institute of Hair Design (72.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Hawaii, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $32,058 (3 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $38,439 (7 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Hawaii is 47.5% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Hawaii?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Hawaii, median net price is $9,652 vs $14,215 nationally (-32.1% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Hawaii trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Hawaii is $9,500 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Hawaii ranks #16 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Hawaii?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Hawaii trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $38,439 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $31,592.
What share of Hawaii trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 78.3% in Hawaii vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Hawaii?
This profile covers 6 trade schools and 6 community colleges (12 total) in Hawaii with roughly 14,754 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Hawaii?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 7 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 3 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Hawaii?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy; highest 10-year earnings: Honolulu Community College; lowest net price among large campuses: Leeward Community College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Hawaii?
Among 22 campuses in Hawaii, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Hawaii Pacific University; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1), Other Protestant (1).
How does Hawaii compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Hawaii is in the Far West region. Regional median net price is $14,386 and median 10-year earnings are $38,498 vs $9,652 net price and $38,439 earnings in Hawaii.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Hawaii college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON