Best Community Colleges in Hawaii

Leeward Community College is a part of the University of Hawaii System.  Leeward offers about 20 programs of study, including automotive technology, culinary arts, and liberal arts.

Most of the programs available at the college are offered at both the associate degree and certificate levels. The certificate programs are offered in part-time tracks and students can complete them in just two years. Students enrolled in the associate program full-time can earn their degree within a period of two years.

Leeward Community College also offers students an online path to earning an associate degree in liberal arts. This associate degree can be transferred to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

In addition to the online associate option, the college also offers college over 24 online certificates in subjects such as teaching, travel industry management, and business essentials.

The online programs offered at Leeward community college in Hawaii are delivered through accelerated five-week courses. The online associate program is complete in 2years and 6 months and the on-campus track can be completed in two years.

Applicants are required to hold a GED certificate. The University of Hawai’i System offers multiple scholarships to eligible students each year. Students interested in the scholarship should submit the UH System Common Scholarship Application. The cost of this college per year is about $4663.

Kapiolani Community College is located in eastern Honolulu. KCC boasts about 7,000 enrollees on campus and online. Many of the academic programs offered at the college are in alignment with the state’s largest employment sectors, including education, nursing, and tourism.

The college offers both associate degree and certificate programs. Programs available under the certificate program include surgical technology, phlebotomy, and therapy. The college offers about 200 online courses each semester and students can earn their degree entirely online or in a hybrid format.

Remote learners benefit from online testing, tutoring, and technology resources. High school students in the Honolulu environment can participate in the college’s dual-credit program.

Applicants can apply for the fall or spring semester, Hawaii residents and active-duty military personnel are not required to pay an admission fee.

Prospective students are required to take COMPASS placement tests to determine their initial English and math courses. The cost of this college per year is about $6809.

Kauai Community College offers 18 programs of study that prepare students for a variety of careers, including nurses, beekeepers, and medical assistants.

Kauai Community College maintains a strong relationship with the local community. For instance, the school hosts at least two public events each month that include lectures and speakers. Remote learners are also not left out as the college offers them an online program in a hybrid format.

Advisors at the Veterans’ Support Centers work with veterans one-on-one to ensure that relevant military training can count toward certificate or degree requirements.

Kaua’i CC offers exclusive scholarship and grant opportunities for Native Hawaiians and Hawaii residents from the ages of 60 and above are not required to pay tuition. The cost of this college per year is about $10527.

Hawaii Community College has campuses in Hilo and Kailua Kona. Hawai’i Community College maintains a special relationship with the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.

Community college students enjoy access to library, academic,  and career services offered by the larger four-year university. The college offers about 28 programs of study including business technology, tropical forest ecosystem and agroforestry management, and agriculture.

Hawai’i Community College does not offer online programs itself but degree-seekers at the school can still take online courses through the Hawai’i Community College System. Remote learners enjoy access to online proctoring, IT services, and tutoring.

Hawai’i Community College charges in-state students less tuition than out-of-state students. in-state students save approximately 66% on tuition compared to out-of-state students.

Honolulu Community College offers degree-seekers and certificate-seekers over 24 courses of study to choose from. The college offers five liberal arts associate programs such as natural sciences, Hawaiian studies, communication, Asian studies, and psychology, students can transfer their credits to four-year public schools in Hawaii.

Honolulu CC also offers affordable online programs where in-state students get to pay a fraction of the tuition that four-year public universities charge.

Prospective online students are required to take a readiness assessment before enrolling. This community college in Hawaii delivers courses through five-week sessions.

Prospective students are required to submit standardized test scores to fulfill Honolulu CC’s placement testing requirements. Students who are interested in a college-funded scholarship should submit all materials by the March 9 deadline. The cost of this college per year is about $7751.