Hawaii Community College campus
Hawaii Community College logo

Hawaii Community College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Remote
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Dormitory capacity 40
Student to faculty ratio 14 to 1
Students retention rate 59%
On-time graduation rate 34%

Located in Hilo, Hawaii, HCC-Leeward is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Hawaii Community College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Hawaii Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, HCC-Leeward emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at HCC-Leeward is reported to be 34%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Hawaii state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 42% whereas the national average was 35%.

The retention rate of students at HCC-Leeward is 59% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Hawaii is 76%, while the national average is 61%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at HCC-Leeward do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

In-State Tuition & Fees

$3,204

Cost of attendance at Hawaii Community College in 2022 for students from Hawaii.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Hawaii's average $7,722
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$8,340

Cost of attendance at Hawaii Community College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Hawaii's average $20,994
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 76 of freshman students at Hawaii Community College received on average $5,122 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$5,122
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 154 53% $4,609 $709,781
Other Federal Grant 191 65% $4,270 $815,594
State Grant/Scholarships 53 18% $1,956 $103,674
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 89 30% $2,389 $212,665
Total Grant & Scholarships 221 76% $5,122 $1,131,933

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Hawaii Community College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Hawaii Community College students is 33.6%. Female students graduated at a rate of 27.2%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 40.6%.

33.6%

  • asian 48.7% 19 students
  • white 31.4% 11 students
  • hawaiian 28.6% 8 students
  • hispanic 41.4% 29 students
  • International Students 25.0% 2 students
  • Mixed Race 27.8% 42 students

Service Offerings

Hawaii Community College provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Hawaii Community College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

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