Financial Aid and Your Enrollment
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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 may be revised based on your enrollment status. Note: Most Federal, State and Institutional aid require at least half-time enrollment status at UH Hilo.
For undergraduate students, enrollment status is determined as follows:
| UG Enrollment 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:
| GR/PR Enrollment Status | Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 6 or more credit hours |
| Half-time | 3 - 5 credit hours |
Concurrent Enrollment
Courses taken at other institutions within the University of Hawaiʻi System do not automatically count towards your financial aid enrollment. If you will be enrolled in at least six credits at UH Hilo for the Fall/Spring terms (at least 1 course during the Summer term) and the course from another institution is going to satisfy your graduation requirements, please complete and submit the UH Hilo Prior Authorization for Transfer Credit for Financial Aid Form (PDF ). If you are enrolled in courses at an institution outside of the University of Hawaiʻi System, a Consortium Agreement must also be completed with the other institution.
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.
Repeat Coursework
You may receive financial aid to repeat a previously passed course (or course equivalent) only once.
Also, please be aware that repeated courses count as hours attempted and may affect your eligibility for future financial aid. Refer to our Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for details.
Withdrawing from Classes
Official Withdrawals
It is the responsibility of any student wishing to withdraw from UH Hilo to follow the official withdrawal process with the University. Students wishing to withdraw from the University should contact the Office of the Registrar to initiate the withdrawal process. The University’s policy on complete withdrawal may be found in the General Catalog.
Withdrawal from all classes during a term may result in a change in institutional charges for the term. Please consult the General Catalog for the complete Tuition and Fees Refund Policy.
Withdrawal from all classes during a term may also result in a change in the financial aid offer for that term. Federal financial aid regulations have created a Return of Title IV Funds Policy. This policy states that students who withdraw or cease attendance before the 60 percent point of the term (as calculated by the number of days in the term) will have their financial aid reduced.
Upon withdrawal, the Financial Aid Office will calculate, from the number of days in the term that the student attended prior to withdrawal, the percentage of the term that the student completed. This percentage will be applied to the amount of aid disbursed for the term with the student being able to retain only the amount of aid for the percentage of the term actually completed. The unearned portion of the financial aid offer must be returned to the federal, state, and institutional programs that have been awarded. If excess financial aid funds have been refunded to the student, a portion of these funds may also need to be returned to the financial aid programs awarded. This may result in large sums being owed to both UH Hilo and federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
Students considering withdrawal from classes should consult the Financial Aid Office prior to initiating the withdrawal process. Withdrawal can have a significant impact on institutional charges, a current financial aid offer, as well as future financial aid eligibility (see the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy).
Unofficial Withdrawals
Students who cease attending all classes during a term may also be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy referenced above. In all cases, official withdrawal procedures should be followed.
Also, students who fail all classes during a term will be reviewed to determine if the failure was due to not attending the class. Students who stopped attending classes before the end of the term will be treated as an unofficial withdrawal.