Hawai'i Promise Scholarship

College can be free with our Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship

“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship has provided me with financial aid that saved me so much money. Being a full-time student with two part-time jobs, I didn’t have to worry about my tuition and I was still able to study what I wanted to do. It has helped me pay for my books, supplies [and] classes.”
-Kevin-Clark Labador, Leeward Community College

The Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship is Hawai‘iʻs community college scholarship program. It covers tuition, books and other education costs to help Hawai‘i residents pay for college and start fulfilling careers.

The Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship covers the gap between other financial aid you receive and the amount you still need to pay for community college. The result: qualified students will have 100% of your cost to attend covered. You do not need to repay the scholarship and it helps you avoid taking out student loans.

The Hawai'i Promise scholarship helps any Hawai‘i resident who wants to go to community college afford it. This makes college accessible to more people who want to start meaningful careers in Hawai‘i.

In fiscal year 2024, $5.5 million was awarded to 3,446 eligible students across the seven UH Community Colleges. The average award per student was $1,600, covering direct education costs such as tuition, books and fees. Since its inception in 2017, the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship has served more than 12,000 UHCC students.

Who is Eligible:

  1. Most Hawai‘i residents are eligible for the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship. Even if you are not sure if you are eligible, you should still submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA to find out.
  2. All Hawaiʻi state residents who qualify for in-state tuition are eligible.
  3. You must be in a degree-seeking college program that accepts financial aid – almost all programs are.
  4. You must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and take at least six (6) credits per semester at a UH Community College to receive the scholarship – usually one or two classes.
  5. You’ll need to accept all other federal and state grants and scholarships you are awarded. The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship covers the difference.

Awards are contingent upon funding and amounts are based upon enrollment level, financial need, and other financial resources.

How to Get the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship: 

Applying for the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship is easy. All you need to do is complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and enroll in a UH Community College program. If you need help completing the FAFSA, please email FAFSA@hawaii.edu to get free personalized assistance. 

Have more questions about the FAFSA or financial aid? Free help is available! Check out this quick guide to access resources and contact one of our campuses for more assistance. 

Record $5.5M for Hawai‘i Promise scholarships at UH Community Colleges

Maria Reyes

Maria

Kapi‘olani CC

"This scholarship helped me achieve my goals by reducing the financial burden so many students in Hawai‘i face as inflation and the cost of living soars. My tuition is one less thing I have to worry about while working towards a financially stable future. I am so grateful for the scholarship and the opportunities allotted to me."

Michael Amado

Michael

Former Kapi‘olani CC student, current UH Mānoa student

"The Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship was incredibly helpful for me in continuing my college education and transferring from Kapi‘olani CC to UH Mānoa. The scholarship not only helped with living expenses but also allowed me not to have to work as many hours so I could devote more time to my studies. …the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship is a shining light for students who want a better future for themselves and their families."

Christina Faye

Christina

UH Maui College

“After losing my home along with my hometown in the Lahāina wildfire, the Hawai’i Promise Scholarship has helped me get back on my feet by supporting me financially and not having me worry too much about spending my whole paycheck on my tuition.”

For more information about your Hawai’i Promise Scholarship, or if you have any questions about the financial aid process, please contact the Financial Aid Office at the community college you are enrolled in.

Please email UH Community Colleges or share your experience with us via the form below.