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2026 Best Value Trade Schools in Hawaii
Looking for the best-value Trade degree programs in Hawaii? We have ranked 23 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated 7 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 23 Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in Hawaii
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is University Of Hawaii Maui College, our #1 best-value Trade school in Hawaii. Set in Kahului, HI, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. University Of Hawaii Maui College Trade students take on a median of $11,824 in debt. Median earnings reach $34,453 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii Maui College
A rank of #2 makes Honolulu Community College one of the best values in Hawaii. Set in Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Honolulu Community College Trade students take on a median of $10,868 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Honolulu Community College
A rank of #3 makes Kapiolani Community College one of the best values in Hawaii. Kapiolani Community College is a public school based in Honolulu, HI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Kapiolani Community College Trade students take on a median of $14,738 in debt. Median earnings reach $44,599 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $14,738 median debt. Read more about Kapiolani Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kauai Community College earned it the #4 place in Hawaii. Based in Lihue, HI, Kauai Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,388. The median Trade program debt is $5,500. Median earnings reach $36,868 ten years out. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Kauai Community College
Out of the 7 schools in Hawaii in this year's value ranking, Hawaii Community College landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Hilo, HI. In-state tuition and fees average $3,204, with out-of-state students paying around $8,340. Typical Trade student debt is $13,170. Median earnings reach $34,891 ten years out. Set against $13,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Hawaii Community College profile
Leeward Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Leeward Community College is a public school based in Pearl City, HI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,214, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. The median Trade program debt is $10,776. Leeward Community College alumni report median earnings of $39,899 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,776 median debt. Read more about Leeward Community College
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #7 spot for value in Hawaii this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school based in Honolulu, HI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete their Trade program here. University Of Hawaii At Manoa alumni report median earnings of $57,624 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%. Get the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa report
Hawaii Institute Of Hair Design placed #8 among the best-value Trade schools in Hawaii. Read more about Hawaii Institute Of Hair Design
Institute Of Clinical Acupuncture And Oriental Med placed #9 among the best-value Trade schools in Hawaii. See the full Institute Of Clinical Acupuncture And Oriental Med profile
Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy
University Of Hawaii System Office landed the #11 spot for value in Hawaii this year. Get the full University Of Hawaii System Office report
University Of Phoenix Hawaii Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read more about University Of Phoenix Hawaii Campus
University Of Hawaii West Oahu ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read more about University Of Hawaii West Oahu
Chaminade University Of Honolulu came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on Chaminade University Of Honolulu
Hawaii Pacific University placed #15 among the best-value Trade schools in Hawaii. Read more about Hawaii Pacific University
Pacific Rim Christian University landed the #16 spot for value in Hawaii this year. Read more about Pacific Rim Christian University
Ibs School Of Cosmetology And Massage ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read the full report on Ibs School Of Cosmetology And Massage
Mauna Loa Helicopters came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mauna Loa Helicopters
Brigham Young University Hawaii ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Brigham Young University Hawaii profile
Hawaii Tokai International College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hawaii Tokai International College
Hawaii Medical College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Hawaii Medical College report
University Of Hawaii At Hilo ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full University Of Hawaii At Hilo profile
Windward Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Windward Community College
More Trade Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 7 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 23 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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