Financial Aid

How does my enrollment affect my financial aid award?

Enrollment Status

Your enrollment at the end of the add/drop period of each term will determine your enrollment status (i.e. full-time, half-time, etc.) for that term.  Your financial aid award will be based on your enrollment status. Please be aware that most Federal, State and Institutional awards require at least half-time enrollment at UH Hilo.

For undergraduate students, enrollment status is determined as follows:

Award Status Enrollment
Full-time 12 or more credit hours
Three-quarter time 9 - 11 credit hours
Half-time 6 - 8 credit hours
Less than half-time 5 or less credit hours

For graduate or professional students, enrollment status is determined as follows:

Award Status Enrollment
Full-time 6 or more credit hours
Half-time 3 - 5 credit hours

Concurrent Enrollment

Credits taken at other campuses within the University of Hawaiʻi System may be counted to determine your enrollment status as long as the courses are required for your degree at UH Hilo. Before they can be counted, the courses must be approved by an academic advisor. You must complete a Prior Authorization for Transfer Credit for Financial Aid Form (PDF) and submit a signed copy to the Financial Aid Office.

Important note: Since students have the opportunity to change their registration without penalty until the day before classes start, these forms will not be processed until soon before the start of the term to ensure processing is based on the student's most accurate class schedule.

Effective Fall 2015, students will be required to maintain at least six (6) credit hours of enrollment at UH Hilo during the Fall/Spring terms (at least (3) during the Summer term) to be eligible for a Prior Authorization for Transfer Credit for Financial Aid. If you are enrolled in classes at an institution outside of the University of Hawaiʻi System, a consortium agreement must also be completed with the other campus.

Repeat Coursework

You may receive financial aid to repeat a previously passed course (or course equivalent) only one time.

Also, please be aware that repeated courses count as hours attempted and may affect your eligibility for future financial aid. Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for details.