Why This Matters

  • 8 TWO-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS IN HAWAII

    According to College Navigator, Hawaii offers two-year associate degree programs at eight community colleges.

  • $4,018 AVERAGE COST FOR IN-DISTRICT TUITION AND FEES

    Based on estimates from College Board, enrolled students in Hawaii paid an average in-district tuition of $4,018 for the 2020-21 school year at community colleges.

  • 76.9% OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS USED FINANCIAL AID

    During the 2018-19 academic year, 437,899 enrolled students used some type of financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition at community colleges in the United States.

Our Research

Our list was carefully curated to include the best community colleges in Hawaii. To do this, we looked for two-year programs at Hawaii’s public and private educational institutions. We researched the amount of tuition, the credit requirements to graduate, and the method in which coursework is delivered (online, in-person, etc.).

All of the Hawaii community colleges on our list are accredited institutions, which means they meet high academic standards. Most of the colleges on our list are accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). This accrediting body uses innovation, self-analysis, and peer review to ensure accredited institutions encourage excellence and continuous improvement.

  • 11hours to write this article
  • 18universities and colleges we assessed
  • 31education programs we compared

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Hawaii

Best Community Colleges in Hawaii Badge
01

What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Hawaii

Looking at the career options available should help you decide on your career path. Indeed, picking a program with a strong earning potential will make your associate degree a good investment. May 2020 median wage data shows that the top highest-paying jobs in Hawaii for people with an associate degree were air traffic controllers, diagnostic medical sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists, magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and radiation therapists.

For job seekers with an associate degree, the careers with the most openings in Hawaii are preschool teachers (except special education), paralegals and legal assistants, human resources assistants (except payroll and time keeping), and computer network support specialists.

On the opposite end, the associate degree-level careers in Hawaii with the greatest projected decline include mechanical drafters, broadcast technicians, human resources assistants (except payroll and timekeeping), architectural and civil drafters, and agricultural and food science technicians.

What’s Next?

Part of researching community colleges in Hawaii is understanding the options you have for financial aid. Below is a list of state and federal resources that help you explore grants, scholarships, and other financial aid options for Hawaii community college students.

  • Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program. This agency offers information about financial aid options for students attending college in Hawaii.
  • Federal Student Aid. More than $120 billion in financial aid comes from the office of Federal Student Aid each year. Use FAFSA4caster to determine your eligibility for scholarships, grants, loans, and work study. When you’re ready, there’s an online FAFSA form that you can use to apply for financial aid.
  • CareerOneStop. With CareerOneStop, you can search for scholarships, grants, fellowships, and other financial aid options for your degree type and state. This resource provides helpful details on qualifications, award amounts, deadlines, and contact information.