Receive College Money as a Student in Hawaii
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Higher education in Hawaii is not only important to Hawaii residents, but it is the dream of many mainland students. What student does not imagine going to school in the morning and hitting the waves in the afternoon? The University of Hawaii leads the state's college and university system with 10 campuses strung along the islands. There are private colleges and a popular community college system.
General Scholarships and Grants
The Hawaii State Incentive Grant is a need-based program that is provided to those students also receiving the Pell Grant. Students must be state residents and apply by filling out the FAFSA.
The State of Hawaii B Plus Scholarship program is a combination merit and need-based program. Eligible students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and prove financial need based on the FAFSA. The program is designed for Hawaiian students enrolling in the University of Hawaii system.
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship is a federally funded program that provides $1500 scholarships to dozens of academically talented students from each state. Initial awards are given to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence through class rank, GPA, SAT/ACT scores and extracurricular involvement. Recipients may attend any four-year college or university, with the exception of a military academy.
Students who graduate from the Kamehameha Schools may qualify for the Kamehameha Post-High Scholarships. Students must be residents of Hawaii and undergraduate, graduate or technical/vocational students.
The Hawaiian Affairs Scholarship Program is administered by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The program is an amalgam of many categories of scholarships, each intended as one more way in which Hawaiians may help fund their college career. Categories include Scholarships for:
- Math and Science Majors
- Native Hawaiians
- Specific Colleges
- Business Majors
Hawaii students who have been in the state foster care system may apply for state foster care tuition vouchers.
The Hawaii Education Association is a not-for-profit group made up of community and education members. They administer the following scholarships to Hawaii students. Applicants must be members of HEA:
- Undergraduate College Students may apply for $1000 scholarships beginning their senior year of high school. Applicants must apply directly through the HEA and the selection criteria are based on both academic merit and financial need. Candidates must write a statement/essay explaining the role of higher education in their lives and attach recommendations from others.
- Student Teachers studying at a graduate level may apply for $3000 scholarships. Applicants must be enrolled full-time and be able to articulate in an essay why teaching is an important choice in their lives.
- Professional Educators pursuing further education within their field may apply for $1000 scholarships.
- See more teaching scholarships on the national level.
University of Hawaii Scholarships
The University of Hawaii directly administers scholarships through their Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED):
- Scholarships for First Year Students
- Scholarships for Continuing College/University Students include programs that offer awards between $1000 and $5000;
- Scholarships for International Students
- Regents Scholarships are merit-based awards that provide incoming academically talented freshmen with full tuition plus expense stipends. Scholarship criteria are based on a GPA of at least 3.5 and high SAT/ACT scores.
- For junior level students Presidential Scholarships offer eligible applicants full tuition plus stipend. Outstanding students only will be considered and must have a GPA of 3.7.
- See more minority scholarships on the national level.
Specialized Studies Programs
The University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Education offers nearly 30 scholarships for education students. Scholarships include those for special education students, math and science educators and an alumni scholarship.
