The University of Hawaii According to an analysis by private financial firm WalletHub, the community college system is one of the best in the country. UH ranks 6th out of 41 states with community college systems.
“It is no surprise that UH is ranked so highly considering our affordability, the quality of our faculty and staff, and the wide range of programs offered,” said Della Teraoka, interim vice president of the community colleges. “Whether you are embarking on an educational path toward a degree, preparing for a career, or making a midlife career change that requires more education and training, UH has a place for you.”
UH Community colleges offer degree programs, vocational and technical training and career paths, as well as vocational training and certifications. Hawaii CCHonolulu CC, Kapiolani CC, Kauai CCLeeward CC, UH Maui College, Windward CC are part of Hawaii’s Public higher education system with 10 locations.
The annual costs for training at a UH Community College is $3,144, compared to $11,304 for a UH four-year college, $30,760 for a private four-year Hawaii College and $69,504 for a private out-of-state college.
“Community colleges are a particularly attractive option this year as many families struggle with inflated prices,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “Students who originally planned to attend a private four-year college may want to consider spending two years at a community college and transferring those credits once they are in a better financial position.”
WalletHub determined the ranking by analyzing 18 key metrics from 653 community colleges and calculating a weighted average of the scores the community colleges in each state achieved. Maryland had the highest-ranked system and Ohio had the lowest. Data used to create the ranking was collected through July 16, 2024, from the National Center for Education Statistics, Campaign for Free College Tuition, U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Community & Economic Research.
