Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Leeward Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Leeward Community College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Leeward Community College

Pearl City, Hawaii · Public

$5,137
Net Price
$39,899
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
33.4%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Leeward Community College

Leeward Community College posts an average net price of $5,137 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Leeward Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,119, achieved by Ventura College at -$982. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Leeward Community College’s $39,899, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $45,868.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,119
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
60%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Indiana University-Northwest $43k 2. San Joaquin Delta College $43k 3. Tarrant County College Distr $43k 4. St Petersburg College $43k 5. Santa Ana College $44k Compared to Leeward Community College: $40k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, IN · Public Better Value
$5,130 -$7 $43,361 37.1% 60%
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, CA · Public Better Value
$2,407 -$2,730 $43,212 33.4% 55%
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX · Public Better Value
$4,337 -$800 $42,727 29.3% 52%
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · Public Better Value
$1,471 -$3,666 $42,557 37.9% 52%
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA · Public Better Value
$3,133 -$2,004 $43,552 31.2% 51%
Cypress College
Cypress, CA · Public Better Value
$4,606 -$531 $43,533 36.3% 51%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$3,098 $44,316 34.8% 50%
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA · Public Better Value
$4,669 -$468 $44,170 35.1% 50%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public Better Value
$2,829 -$2,308 $43,892 36.6% 49%
Dodge City Community College
Dodge City, KS · Public Better Value
$4,068 -$1,069 $45,427 33.1% 48%
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · Public Better Value
$4,456 -$681 $56,945 31.3% 47%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public Better Value
$3,925 -$1,212 $52,581 20.3% 47%
Canada College
Redwood City, CA · Public Better Value
$32 -$5,105 $50,087 48.0% 47%
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA · Public Better Value
$3,337 -$1,800 $48,224 48.3% 47%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
-$982 -$6,119 $43,430 40.5% 46%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Leeward Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Leeward Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Leeward Community College that cost less. The closest match is Indiana University-Northwest with 60% similarity and a net price of $5,130.
What is the ROI of attending Leeward Community College?
Leeward Community College has an average net price of $5,137. Former students earn a median of $39,899 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 7.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Leeward Community College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Indiana University-Northwest costs $5,130 (saving $7) with median earnings of $43,361.
What is the cheapest alternative to Leeward Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Ventura College at -$982, saving $6,119 compared to Leeward Community College. It has a 46% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $45,868 compared to Leeward Community College's $39,899. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.