Do Students Succeed at Hawaii Community College?
Graduation rates, transfer data, and student outcome analysis for Hawaii Community College in Hilo, HI.
Student Success at Hawaii Community College at a Glance
Hawaii Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Hilo, HI. Current enrollment is 2,289 students.
- 32.7% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 31.1% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 40% of exiters from its largest program (Security Guard Training) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $8,950 per quarter after exiting Security Guard Training
- 504 graduates across 46 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 123 students used them here (Yellow Ribbon participant)
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Hawaii Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guard Training | 68% | 40% | 58% | $8,950 |
| Electrical Technology Program - Maintenance Electrician | 53% | 50% | — | $11,273 |
| Electrical Technology Program - Journeyworker Electrician | 87% | 61% | — | $21,268 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Hawaii Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Hawaii Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
31.1%
Working Student Success
31.8%
Transfer Out Rate
13.8%
Still Enrolled Rate
2.2%
How Hawaii Community College Compares
Hawaii Community College completes 31% of its students, in line with what most trade and vocational schools achieve. 14% transfer out and 2% are still progressing. Use this as a baseline rather than a differentiator when comparing peer schools.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Hawaii Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Hawaii Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 47.3% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Hawaii Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 12.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Hawaii Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (31.8% vs 30% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Hawaii Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 977 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
All Full-time Students
All Part-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.