Hawaii Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs

Hawaii has several private student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Hawaii, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.

These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.

There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Hawaii can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to. 

Hawaii Student Loan Programs

Hawaii doesn't have any unique student loan programs to help it's students pay for college. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in Hawaii. 

If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:

• Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
• College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.

Check out our complete guide to finding the best student loans here.

Hawaii Scholarship Programs

Hawaii has several scholarships available to students who want to attend the University of Hawaii.

Regents Scholarship

The Regents Scholarships are awarded to 20 outstanding freshmen. It provides a full waiver for 4 years of study at the University of Hawaii, as well as $4,000 per year, and a one time travel grant of $2,000. 

The only requirements are an SAT total score of at least 1950 (old SAT)/1380 (new SAT) or ACT combined score of at least 29 and a minimum 3.5 GPA in academic subjects in high school. There must also be remarkable extracurricular activities.

Learn more about the Hawaii Regents Scholarship here.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarships are awarded to incoming juniors. It provides a full waiver for 2 years of study at the University of Hawaii, as well as $4,000 per year, and a one time travel grant of $2,000. 

The only requirements are a minimum 3.7 GPA in college level work. There must also be evidence of superior academic caliber. 

Learn more about the Hawaii Presidential Scholarship here.

The Second Century Scholarship

The Second Century Scholarship is a need-based grant provided to Native Hawaiian students who demonstrate financial need. This scholarship is available to students across the UH System. The amount awarded will depend on the student’s financial need and funds available. To be eligible, Native Hawaiian students need only apply for financial aid through their campus financial aid offices. All regular aid deadlines apply.

Learn more about the Second Century Scholarship here.

The State of Hawaii B Plus Scholarship

The State of Hawaiʻi B Plus Scholarship is for Hawaiʻi residents who graduated from a high school after 2005, has at least a 3.0 high school grade point average, has completed a rigorous high school curriculum and demonstrates financial need.

Learn more about the State of Hawaii B Plus Scholarship here.

Hawai'i's Promise Scholarship

Hawai'i's Promise Scholarship is a need-based scholarship program designed to make college affordable to all qualified Hawai'i students. The program provides financial assistance to help meet the direct educational costs of University of Hawai'i Community College students who are enrolled at least half time in an eligible academic program. 

Learn more about the Hawaii Promise Scholarship here.

New Warrior Scholarship

The New Warrior Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program for attendees of the University of Hawaii Manoa. It requires a cetain GPA, as well as an essay.

Learn more about the New Warrior Scholarship here.

Hawaii Grant Programs

Hawaii also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to Hawaii residents (and some residents from the Pacific Islands).

Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.

Hawaii Opportunity Grant

The University of Hawaiʻi offers various need–based and non–need–based scholarship assistance in the form of Opportunity Grants, Achievement Scholarships, International Student Scholarships, and Pacific Islander Scholarships. Criteria vary by campus and scholarship. U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens from the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands should complete the FAFSA and consult their campus’ financial aid office with any questions or concerns about their eligibility to file the FAFSA.

You can learn more about the Hawaii Opportunity Grant here.

Other Options

If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Hawaii resident, check out our Hawaii Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Hawaii residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.

You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.

If you're looking for ways to save for college in Hawaii, check out the Hawaii 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.

Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.