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Kapolei Oahu AerialPhoto: Travis.Thurston · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Kapolei

Kapolei is home to University of Hawaii-West Oahu

The University of Hawaii-West Oahu (1,319 students on campus) is inside the town. About 7% of Kapolei’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Hawaii (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Kapolei. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
9,623 students on campus
Nearest college
1.3 mi
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Residents in college
7%
About the same as HI (6%)
Nearest community college
6.5 mi
Leeward · $3,214 tuition
Nearest public university
16.3 mi
University of Hawaii at Manoa · $12,186 in-state
Median household income
$128K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Kapolei

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in KapoleiThe University of Hawaii-West Oahu has 1,319 students on campus in Kapolei, 50% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 6.5 miles awayLeeward Community College in Pearl City: tuition and fees $3,214 a year for Hawaii residents.In-state price at University of Hawaii at ManoaLiving in Hawaii, the University of Hawaii at Manoa charges $12,186 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $34,218. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as Hawaii (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Kapolei

Three private colleges within 14.5 miles, one public college within 1.3 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, University of Hawaii at Manoa, is 16.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miLeewardHonoluluKapolei
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Hawaii-West OahuUniversity or college · Public · 1,319 on campus · In Kapolei · mostly online95%admitted$10knet price50%graduate$52kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Leeward Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,455 on campus · 6.5 mi · Pearl City · mostly online$5knet price35%graduate$40kearnings59% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $3,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific Rim Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 134 on campus · 11.6 mi · Honolulu$23knet price45%graduate$41kearningsHonolulu Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,671 on campus · 12.8 mi · Honolulu$7knet price25%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $3,174 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hawaii Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,928 on campus · 13.6 mi · Honolulu86%admitted$30knet price35%graduate$60kearningsHawaii Medical CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 116 on campus · 14.5 mi · Honolulu$30knet price84%graduate$39kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Kapolei’s median household income ($128,324) falls.

Leeward Community College6.5 mi · Pearl City · mostly online · sticker $12,507 · tuition $3,214$11,554a year
Honolulu Community College12.8 mi · Honolulu · sticker $13,151 · tuition $3,174$12,959a year
University of Hawaii-West OahuIn Kapolei · mostly online · sticker $18,410$17,718a year
University of Hawaii at Manoa16.3 mi · Honolulu · sticker $26,433$22,562a year
Hawaii Pacific University13.6 mi · Honolulu · sticker $50,674$33,540a year
Hawaii Medical College14.5 mi · Honolulu · sticker $36,252$36,252a year
Pacific Rim Christian University11.6 mi · Honolulu · sticker $24,042—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Hawaii-West OahuLeewardPacific Rim Christian UniversityHonoluluHawaii Pacific UniversityUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa64% graduate$58k earnings$18k typical debt
Hawaii Pacific University35% graduate$60k earnings$22k typical debt
Leeward Community College35% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
Honolulu Community College25% graduate$45k earnings$8k typical debt
University of Hawaii-West Oahu50% graduate$52k earnings$14k typical debt
Pacific Rim Christian University45% graduate$41k earnings
Hawaii Medical College84% graduate$39k earnings$13k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Questions about college in Kapolei

Is Kapolei a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Kapolei residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Hawaii (6). The largest campus in the town, the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, has 1,319 students on campus.

What colleges are in Kapolei?

The University of Hawaii-West Oahu is inside the town. Leeward Community College is 6.5 miles away in Pearl City.

What is the closest community college to Kapolei, and what does it cost?

Leeward Community College in Pearl City, 6.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,214 a year for Hawaii residents; the federal net price, $5,137, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Hawaii at Manoa cost if we live in Hawaii?

Tuition and fees are $12,186 a year in-state and $34,218 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,675 (under $30,000 income) to $22,562 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Kapolei. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →