Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Windward Community College

Windward Community College graduates are earning slightly above their Hawaii peers four years out—$31,490 versus the state median of $26,206—though they're taking on about $3,000 more debt than average to get there. For context, these earnings land in the 60th percentile among Hawaii's liberal arts associate programs, meaning Windward beats six of the ten schools offering this degree in the state. The $12,000 debt load, while above Hawaii norms, translates to a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and represents roughly 44% of first-year income.

The 16% earnings growth between years one and four suggests graduates are finding their footing in Hawaii's job market, though the $31,490 endpoint remains modest in an expensive state. Windward sits right in the middle pack compared to other Hawaii community colleges—well behind Kapiolani's $33,307 but solidly ahead of Leeward's $21,784. The relatively low Pell grant percentage (13%) hints this may serve a more affluent student population than typical community colleges.

For families viewing this as an affordable stepping stone before transfer to a four-year program, the numbers work reasonably well. But if this associate degree represents the endpoint of their education, parents should understand their child will likely need additional credentials or experience to achieve financial independence in Hawaii's high-cost housing market.