Ben Fouts, President | Mauna Loa Helicopters
Ben Fouts, President | Mauna Loa Helicopters
Data shows that students paid $8,506 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, unchanged from the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Mauna Loa Helicopters stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $98,000. The University of Hawaii at Hilo followed with an average of $12,467 per year. Hawaii Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,256.
At the time, a total of $3.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Hawaii County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $953,783.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Hawaii County, including Mauna Loa Helicopters, University of Hawaii at Hilo, and Hawaii Community College.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauna Loa Helicopters | 0 | $0 | $0 | 5 | $15,125 | $3,025 |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo | 255 | $1,900,701 | $7,454 | 127 | $909,125 | $7,158 |
| Hawaii Community College | 177 | $1,204,618 | $6,806 | 7 | $29,533 | $4,219 |
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