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Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, Hawaii · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816 · Phone: (808) 734-9000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Kapiolani Community College is a public trade and career school in Honolulu, HI offering culinary & pastry, medical assistant, and EMT training programs, accredited by ACCJC and several field-specific accreditors.
Kapiolani Community College has a 22.2% completion rate, below the state average of 51.9%, with median graduate debt of $9,229 and median earnings of $44,599 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Kapiolani Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 19.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks | $48,970 | $77,360 | $98,640 |
| Medical assistants | $38,580 | $48,410 | $55,940 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $51,140 | $66,410 | $84,620 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $39,150 | $101,700 | $107,080 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $59,620 | $71,140 | $75,250 |
| Dental assistants | $31,540 | $44,720 | $48,120 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Hawaii (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 50 | $28,440 | $31,236 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 17 | $33,060 | $41,565 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 14 | $72,750 | $81,702 | $11,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $72,750 | $81,702 | $11,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 5 | $33,060 | $41,565 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Kapiolani Community College is a public trade and career campus in Honolulu, Hawaii, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges along with several field-specific accreditors including bodies overseeing nursing, dental, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and radiologic technology programs. Federal financial aid (Title IV) applies here. Its most-awarded trade programs are culinary & pastry arts, medical assistant training, and EMT & paramedic training, with ten program families reported overall.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 22.2%, which is below the state average of 51.9%. Graduates who borrowed carry a median debt of $9,229, and median earnings ten years after entry are $44,599. Cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 19.2% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a mix of income levels among enrollees.
With 149 trade completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 3,910, this large-city campus offers programs spanning short certificates to longer clinical tracks, which may suit both new students and adult career changers depending on the specific program's length and format — though exact program lengths are not detailed here. Anyone considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status directly with the relevant accreditor and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the latest outcome figures before applying.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Kapiolani Community College offers ten program families, most notably culinary & pastry schools, medical assistant programs, and EMT & paramedic training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, along with specialized accreditors for nursing, dental, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and radiologic technology programs.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 22.2%, which is below the Hawaii state average of 51.9%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,229, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,599, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (808) 734-9000 or visit its website for tuition details.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state funding, though this does not guarantee particular outcomes.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school to confirm specific program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through ACCJC and the listed specialized accreditors, and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the provided link.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program formats or schedules, so fit for adult career changers cannot be confirmed from the figures provided; contact the school to discuss program options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school for details on certification or licensure tied to specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Kapiolani Community College at (808) 734-9000 or through its website, https://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparative figures for other schools; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?141796 to compare outcomes across institutions.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.