Financial aid helps students and their families pay for educational expenses. This includes estimated tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study and/or loans.

You will need to be admitted to a UH campus, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet all eligibility requirements. See Steps to Apply.

The FAFSA is available annually on October 1. Applications are accepted on an on-going basis.

Yes, a FAFSA must be filed each academic year for which the student wants to receive financial aid. Remember that filing a FAFSA is free. You DO NOT need to pay to file the FAFSA.

You can apply for financial aid any time after October 1st for the following fall and spring semester, but you must be admitted and enrolled in classes in order to receive funds.

No. Financial aid cannot be received from two different institutions at the same time because you are expecting to receive a degree only from one school. Federal law allows aid to be administered by only one school.

For those completing a FAFSA form, you need the following information:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your A-Number (if you're not a U.S. citizen)
• Federal income tax returns, records of child support received, and your current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts (Note: You must provide consent and approval to disclose your federal tax information to be eligible for federal student aid.)
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
• Create a StudentAid.gov account/FSA ID (account username and password) to log in to StudentAid.gov and start the FAFSA form electronically

If you’re a dependent student, then you’ll also need most of the above information for your parent(s).

A contributor refers to anyone (student, the student's spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent's spouse) who is required to provide information on the student’s FAFSA form.

Contributor means the individual contributes information to the student’s FAFSA. It does NOT mean they must contribute to the student’s educational expenses.

Contributor’s name, date of birth, social security number, and email address.

By federal definition, if you are considered a dependent, you must report your parents' information on the FAFSA.

You are considered to be an independent student only if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are 24 years or older by January 1 of the award year; or
• You are a graduate or professional student; or
• You are married; or
• You have children who receive more than half of their support from you; or
• You have legal dependents (other than children or spouse) who receive more than half of their support from you now and through next year; or
• You are an orphan or ward of the court; or
• You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training; or
• You are a veteran of the U.S Armed Forces; or
• You are an emancipated minor; or
• You are in a legal guardianship; or
• You are an unaccompanied youth who was homeless as determined by:
  • your high school or school district homeless liaison,
  • director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or
  • the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program.

Provide the information of the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months. If both parents provided an equal amount, the parent with the greater income or assets provides their information.

Your stepparent is considered a parent; their information needs to be included on the FAFSA.

You are not automatically independent for financial aid purposes simply because your parents stop claiming you as a tax exemption or refuse to give you support for your college education. Unwillingness, inability, or reluctance of parents to help pay for your educational costs or becoming emancipated, or demonstrating self-sufficiency do not make you independent by federal law.

The Financial Aid Office may make allowances for students to be independent if you can demonstrate extenuating family circumstances on a case-by-case basis. You should contact your campus Financial Aid Office to discuss your circumstances.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t live with your parent or parents; you still must report information about them if you’re considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes. The following people are not your parents unless they have legally adopted you: grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, uncles or aunts, and widowed stepparents.

If you do not have contact with your parent(s), contact your campus Financial Aid Office.

Unusual circumstances are when a student is unable to contact a parent or where contact with the parent poses a risk to the student. Examples of unusual circumstances include, but are not limited to, human trafficking, legally granted refugee or asylum status, parental abandonment or estrangement, and student or parental incarceration.

Starting in the 2024–25 award year, students who indicate on their FAFSA form that they have unusual circumstances will be granted provisional independent status. Students with this provisional independent status will receive an estimate of their federal student aid eligibility.

The Financial Aid Office will make the final determination of a student's unusual circumstances based on the documentation (e.g., interviews, documented phone calls and statements from various officials, court documents, utility bills, and any other documentation deemed appropriate by the school) that the student submits to the school, and on a case-by-case basis.

1. Log onto your Self-Service Dashboard.
2. At the top of the Financial Aid Page, select the aid year and campus.
3. Under the “Home” header, you can view outstanding student requirements and questions from the Financial Aid office.

Note: The items labeled "Not Satisfied", "Incomplete", or "Established" are requirements that need your attention. You need to take action on these items. Also, in most cases you should be able to click on the link to complete the required form for completion.

1. Select My Financial Aid Information (All campuses).
2. At the top of the Financial Aid Page, select the aid year and campus. Click on the Satisfactory Academic Progress header to see your current information.

Verification is a process that confirms that information reported on the FAFSA matches the federal tax returns and other documents. If selected, a student is required to submit certain documents. If any discrepancies are found, corrections are sent to the federal processor to recalculate aid eligibility. It may result in a decrease in total aid, or an increase in total aid.

The SAI is calculated according to a formula established by law using the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is used to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Prior to 2024-25, the SAI was called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Starting in 2024-25, the Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI can be a negative number down to -1500.

The new SAI includes several changes in the calculation used to determine aid:

• The number of family members in college is no longer considered in the calculation, but it remains a required question on the form.
• Child support received will now count as an asset.
• Family farms and small businesses will now count as assets - with the net worth of businesses and farms of any size included.
• Families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) greater than $60,000 will be required to report asset information.

Financial need means a student's family's financial resources, measured by a formula established by the federal government, are not sufficient to cover a student's educational costs. Financial need is the difference between the Cost of Attendance and the Student Aid Index/Resources.

Financial Need = Cost of Attendance¹ - Student Aid Index (SAI)² - External Resources<sup>3

1</sup> Cost of Attendance includes estimated tuition and fees, living expenses, books, course materials, supplies, and equipment, personal expenses, transportation, federal student loan fees (if the student is receiving federal loans), and costs of obtaining a license, certification, or first professional credential in the field of study.

² The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an index number that college financial aid staff use to determine how much financial aid you would receive if you attend their school. The information you report on the FAFSA is used to calculate the SAI.

³ External Resources include outside scholarships awarded by an organization other than the government or college, stipends, tuition remission, etc.

When you apply for financial aid, you do not have to apply for a particular type or amount of aid. Applicants are automatically considered for all available aid programs administered by the Financial Aid Office. One or more types of aid are usually awarded in combination to make up a student's financial aid package. Students who receive scholarships from outside agencies or through other departments must inform the Financial Aid Office because these scholarships will be included as a part of their financial aid offer.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as the successful completion of coursework toward an eligible certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Student Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of students receiving financial aid.

Yes. You can receive awards while on financial aid probation, but you must adhere to the special conditions outlined by the FAO at your home campus.

Yes, but you must try to complete the FAFSA with the information requested. More information regarding special or unusual circumstances can be found on our Professional Judgment page. You may also contact the Financial Aid Office of your home campus if you have any questions.

1. Offers are posted online in your Self-Service Dashboard. The initial offer notification is emailed to you, and explains in detail how to log into your Dashboard to view the offer.
2. At the top of the Financial Aid Page, select the aid year and campus. Click on the Financial Aid header to see your current offer.

Offers are posted online in your Self-Service Dashboard account. The initial offer notification is emailed to you, and explains in detail how to log into your dashboard to view the awards.

1. Login to your Self-Service Dashboard.
2. At the top of the Financial Aid Page, select the aid year and campus. Click on the Financial Aid header to see your current offer.
3. Read the instructions and accept/decline all awards, except loans. If you leave any award as undecided, those awards will not be disbursed.

Note: Offers are based on full-time enrollment and will be adjusted for lower enrollment levels. If you do not begin attendance or complete courses for which you received aid, you may be required to repay all or part of the funds received.

Funds are generally disbursed 10 days before the first day of instruction, unless there are outstanding requirements or you are not at the enrollment level you were awarded for. The funds pay for institutional charges first and any credit balance will be refunded by the Bursar's Office. Students receive their refunds faster when they sign up for eRefunds.

1. Login to your Self-Service Dashboard.
2. Select the “Payment Information” Card.
3. Click on “Enroll in Direct Deposit eRefunds.”

Your initial offer is based on full-time enrollment. These are some examples that may cause your offer to be revised:

• Change in enrollment status;
• Receipt of additional funds, including scholarships and grants;
• Changes in reported financial information since your original offer; or
• Not attending your classes.

All of the following may impact your financial aid offer:

• Classes that you choose. Financial Aid can only be awarded for classes that apply to your major/program requirements. (Course Program of Study)
• Number of credits you take. Offers are generally based on full-time enrollment (12 credits or greater). Your financial aid may be reduced if you are taking less credits.
• Attendance. If you do not begin attendance or you drop classes after you get your financial aid, you may owe back money. (Participation Verification)
• If you receive other financial resources. You must inform your Financial Aid Office if you receive scholarships or grants from another program or organization. An adjustment to your financial aid may be needed.
• Grades and withdrawals. You must maintain good academic standing (Satisfactory Academic Progress).
  • Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  • Complete at least 67% of your total credits attempted.
  • Complete your degree within the Maximum Time Frame.
• Not completing your courses or stopping attendance (Official or Unofficial Withdrawal). If you completely withdraw from your classes or you stop attending and fail to earn a passing grade, you may owe back money (Return to Title IV Funds).

Per federal regulations, the Financial Aid Office must apply a federal formula to determine if funds need to be repaid. In addition, your withdrawal may place you in jeopardy of receiving offers for subsequent semesters based on your Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Your financial aid offer will be based upon your enrollment as of the last day of each term that you can withdraw from a class with a 'W'. If you have already received your offer and have since adjusted your enrollment, you may be responsible for repaying the funds. It is highly recommended that you meet with an Academic Advisor and a Financial Aid Officer to discuss your options.

Yes. If you have been offered financial aid from your home campus, your classes will be held. If aid is disbursed but you still have a balance, the balance will remain on your account as an obligation.

Yes. If you receive grants or scholarships from any organization for educational purposes, you must report it to the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office may need to adjust your aid package to prevent an over award.

To view employment opportunities for your home campus, visit the Student Employment and Cooperative Education (SECE) website.

Your classes at another UHCC campus will be automatically considered for financial aid if 1) the course is required for your degree, and 2) you are enrolled for at least one course at your home campus.

Please refer to the UH 1098-T website.

Title IV financial aid includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Federal Direct loans. These funds will be automatically applied towards your tuition, fees, and dorm charges at any University of Hawaii campus for the current term.

If you have any other charges on your student account for the current or prior term, you must pay those charges separately, unless you accept Title IV Authorization.

Examples of other charges include:

• Fees for late registration or adding/dropping classes, fees for digital course material (IDAP)
• Library or parking fines
• Miscellaneous fees or tuition from the prior term

If you accept, all charges posted on your account after you accept, can be covered by your federal financial aid. This includes all charges for the current term and up to $200 of charges from a prior term. Any excess funds will be refunded to you per our normal refund policy.

If you decline or don’t answer the question, your federal financial aid will be applied ONLY towards charges for your tuition, fees, and dorms for the current term, and up to $200 for the prior term. Other miscellaneous charges and fees listed above will remain on your account. If the obligation remains unpaid, it could result in “account holds” that may block you from registering for future semesters and accessing transcripts.

Login to your Self-Service Dashboard to accept or decline Title IV Authorization.

• Select the appropriate campus and aid year.
• Click on ‘Authorization to pay for non-tuition charges.’
• Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’

No, your answer will remain in effect from that point on until you notify your home campus that you would like to change your answer.

If you would like to change your answer to Title IV Authorization, you should notify your home campus via email.