Terms and Conditions for Financial Aid at UH Hilo

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Your initial financial aid offer is calculated based on information provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Other components used to determine your aid include, but are not limited to, your enrollment status, grade level, outside resources, remaining aid eligibility, and cost of attendance at the time of your aid offer.

Cost of Attendance

Your initial financial aid offer is based on an estimated Cost of Attendance (COA). Your COA will be updated at the end of the add/drop period when actual UH Hilo charges (tuition, fees, campus housing and meal charges, etc) are stabilized. Financial aid may need to be adjusted based on the accurate COA to prevent over-awards of need-based financial aid. Students will be notified via email if aid is affected.

Enrollment Status

In most cases, your initial financial aid offer will be based on full time enrollment. Aid will be adjusted accordingly at the end of the add/drop period and will not be adjusted for classes added or dropped thereafter (except for complete withdrawal or non-attendance). Depending on the type, some aid will not disburse unless you are enrolled full-time.

Establishing Eligibility for Aid

Financial aid is processed under the assumption that you will attend school for the entire period (term) that the funds are for. You must begin attendance/participation in all classes to establish eligibility for financial aid funds. Failure to begin attendance/participation in one or more classes may result in the recalculation of financial aid eligibility and funds will be recouped accordingly. This recalculation can occur at any time (during or after the term), regardless if aid has already been disbursed and a financial aid refund has been issued. The Return of Title IV Funds Policy is available for your review.

Withdrawing From Classes

Withdrawing may have a negative impact to your financial aid eligibility and could result in you owing/returning aid already disbursed. We advise you to consult with the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from classes. Please note that if you do not earn any credits (you receive all ‘F’s, ‘NC’s, etc.), you are considered Unofficially Withdrawn. In this case, your aid will be adjusted according to your last date of class attendance which could result in you owing money to UH Hilo well after the term has ended.

Concurrent Enrollment

Courses at other campuses within the University of Hawaiʻi System may not count toward your financial aid enrollment. However, if courses from another institution are going to satisfy your graduation requirements, those courses could be considered. For those courses to be considered, you must maintain at least half-time enrollment status at UH Hilo during the Fall/Spring terms (at least one (1) class during the Summer term) and submit a Prior Authorization for Transfer Credit for Financial Aid Form (PDF ). 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 institution.

Course Program of Study (CPoS)

In order to be eligible for federal financial aid funds (Pell, FSEOG, Direct Loans, Work Study), you must enroll in and attend courses that are required to fulfill your degree (major) requirements. Courses that are 'not in plan', 'non-applicable' or ineligible repeat attempts will not be considered when determining federal aid eligibility. This means federal aid could be reduced or you could become ineligible. View more information regarding Course Program of Study.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

All financial aid recipients must make satisfactory academic progress toward their educational objectives. This is defined as maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA for undergraduate and professional students (3.0 for graduate students), maintaining a 75% completion rate (pace) of all attempted credits at UH Hilo (as well as approved courses at other institutions) and not exceeding the normal completion timeframe for your degree program. Please read the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy in its entirety to ensure you understand these requirements and the consequences of not meeting them.

Other Financial Assistance

You must notify the Financial Aid Office of funding you receive in addition to the aid listed under Financial Aid on your MyUH Services. This may reduce the amount and/or types of financial aid you are eligible for. These include but are not limited to federal work-study, institutional stipends, scholarships and resources from Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, or other external organizations.

Aid Disbursement and Refund

Your financial aid from UH Hilo will be disbursed no sooner than 10 days before your first day of class provided all requirements are complete and eligibility is met. It will first be applied to any balance owed to UH Hilo for that term (tuition, fees, housing, meals, etc.), then any remaining funds will be issued to you in the form of a refund via eRefund or paper check mailed to your mailing address. This process can take up to 5-7 business days.

Financial Aid for a Second Major/Degree (Undergraduates Only)

Once you've met the requirements for (or earned) one undergraduate degree, you won't be eligible for Federal, State or Institutional Grant funds (whether your degree gets conferred or not). You can still use Federal Direct Loans for additional credits required for another undergraduate degree, as long as you have not exceeded your undergraduate aggregate loan limits, are meeting SAP requirements and all other eligibility criteria.