Public
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Honolulu, Hawaii
Kapiolani Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$11,562Annual Cost
$44,599Grad Salary
17%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$5,194
Need-Based Aid
17% receive Pell
Kapiolani Community College HI Kapiolani Community College is one of Hawaii's leading institutions for transfer education, hospitality management, healthcare, and culinary arts. Its location in Honolulu provides students with unique cultural and professional opportunities.\n\nThe college is particularly attractive to students interested in tourism, hospitality, nursing, and Pacific-region studies. Strong transfer pathways to the University of Hawaii system support continued educational advancement.
Kapiolani Community College Acceptance Rate
Kapiolani Community College (KCC) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at KCC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Kapiolani Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Kapiolani Community College (KCC) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into KCC Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Kapiolani Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for KCC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
KCC provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Select "Liberal Arts" as your declared major even if Nursing is your actual goal - a structural quirk of KCC's application system
Because Nursing is a "select" program requiring prerequisite completion before you can even apply to the program itself, KCC explicitly instructs prospective nursing students to choose LIBERAL ARTS - ASSOCIATE IN ARTS as their declared major on the general college application - declaring "Nursing" directly on your initial application is the wrong move and doesn't reflect how the program's application flow actually works. Confirm this specific major-selection instruction before submitting your general application, since choosing incorrectly doesn't just cause paperwork confusion, it can misroute your advising path entirely.
Take the ATI-TEAS at a physical testing center only - remote/at-home scores have been categorically rejected since 2022
Effective June 1, 2022, KCC's Nursing Department stopped accepting at-home-proctored ATI-TEAS scores entirely for both ADN and Practical Nursing programs; only in-person testing-center scores count now, with a specific note that exams from March 2020 onward under the old "Stay at Home" order were grandfathered but nothing since. Schedule your TEAS at an actual testing center from the start - don't assume remote/online options you may see referenced in older forum posts or outdated guides still apply.
Understand the "best qualified" ranking formula precisely: GPR, TEAS percentile, and co-requisite completion, with Hawaii residents considered first for Practical Nursing
KCC's Practical Nursing program explicitly ranks "best qualified" applicants using a points formula combining prerequisite GPR, ATI-TEAS percentile score, and completed co-requisite courses - with Hawaii residents for tuition purposes considered first, before non-resident qualified applicants are considered at all. If you're not a Hawaii resident, understand you're in a genuinely secondary consideration pool for PRCN specifically, and maximize every other scored factor to compensate; the ADN program uses a similar but distinct point structure with health-related work experience given "extra consideration."
If culinary arts interests you, know KCC is nationally recognized and ACFEF-accredited - reference this specific credential
KCC's culinary program holds accreditation from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), the leading national accrediting body for culinary education, and is described as one of KCC's most locally and nationally recognized programs alongside its health sciences and EMS offerings. Naming the ACFEF accreditation specifically in program-related outreach or personal statements - rather than generic "I love cooking" language - signals genuine research into what makes this program credentialed and respected within the industry.
Expert Insight:
Because KCC's general admission is fully open (100% acceptance) and the college's marketing emphasizes accessibility, applicants can underestimate how tightly regulated the nursing application timeline is. TEAS scores expire after exactly 3 years, retakes are only permitted every 90 days (with early retakes before that window counted as invalid, not just discounted), and an official ATI-TEAS report must arrive directly from ATI to KCC's Nursing Department by the application deadline - a self-reported or student-submitted-only copy renders the application incomplete regardless of the actual score. Missing this direct-reporting requirement is a common, entirely avoidable way strong applicants get marked incomplete.
KCC Profile
Full Name
Kapiolani Community College (KCC)
City
Honolulu
State
Hawaii
ZIP Code
96816-4421
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASCJC)
Is a KCC Degree Worth It?
Getting into KCC can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. KCC offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at KCC is $67,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.66%.
How much does a degree from KCC Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Kapiolani Community College is $11,562. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Kapiolani Community College is $5,194.
17% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 7.1 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to KCC and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Kapiolani Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist KCC as your choice in the form.
How much does a KCC Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $44,599. An average KCC graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at KCC
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Kapiolani Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About KCC Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $44,599 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $11,562 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
17.0% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.