Financial Resources
Need help paying for your education?
Learn how you can afford college, community college, technical school or certification programs. Find tips and resources to support your educational journey after high school.
General tips
There are lots of different ways you can pay for college or postsecondary training. Federal financial aid, scholarships, tuition assistance programs, loans and grants make it possible for thousands of Hawaii students to continue their education and further their career.
Start with the FAFSA, regardless of your income level
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for need-based as well as merit-based scholarships. It’s used by colleges and scholarship organizations to determine eligibility for federal financial aid grants, work study, student loans, and many scholarships.
Need help filling out the FAFSA? Get more tips from the Hawaii Department of Education.
Visit the College Is Within Reach website for more resources.
Understand how financial aid works
Higher education costs include more than just tuition. You’ll need to cover room and board, books, travel and other living expenses. Having a better idea of the costs will help understand how much financial aid you will need.
Make time to search for scholarships and grants
Many people aren’t aware of the many types of scholarships available; it just takes a some investment of your time to research and apply for them. See our links below for scholarship websites you can use to browse scholarships.
Financial Resources
Hawaii Community Foundation
Apply for a variety of scholarships offered by the Hawaii Community Foundation.
Pauahi Foundation
Kamehameha School graduates and Native Hawaiian students can apply for scholarships through the Pauahi Foundation.
Verified scholarships for students
Scholars App performs a background check on every scholarship to ensure that students will not have their data stolen and that they have a chance of actually receiving money.
University of Hawaii System
- Find scholarships available at each of the ten UH campuses statewide
- Find scholarships offered to students attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Hawaii Promise for UH Community Colleges:
A program that will cover financial needs not met by other forms of financial aid such as federal grants and benefits from scholarships from UH, employers and other private sources.
For Teachers:
Public Schools of Hawaii Good Idea Grants
The Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation’s Good Idea Grant Program provides mini-grants of up to $3,000 a to enhance innovation in the classroom and challenge teachers to think creatively.
For Adult Learners
A list of resources to help with living expenses and other forms of financial support.
Employer funded tuition assistance
Please note that some employers may sponsor training funds directly, so make sure to inquire with your employer about possible tuition assistance.
