Direct2UH: Admission, No Strings Attached

UH Hilo has seen a 57% increase in first-time freshmen applications coming directly from Hawaiʻi public schools for the fall 2026 semester.

Imagine a college admissions process with no application fees, no complex forms, and no stressful waiting periods. For Hawaiʻi’s public high school seniors in the Class of 2026, that dream is a reality thanks to the Direct2UH initiative.

Designed to eliminate traditional barriers to post-secondary education, Direct2UH is a transformative program that streamlines the acceptance process, offering local students a fast pass to higher education.

Here at UH Hilo, it means welcoming a new wave of talented, homegrown students to our campus with open arms.

“This coming fall, UH Hilo has seen a 57% increase in first-time freshmen applications coming directly from Hawaiʻi public schools,” said Kati McGinnis, Director of Admissions at UH Hilo. “The Direct2UH Initiative definitely reduces barriers to entry for our incoming students, and really gives us the opportunity to tell the story about UH Hilo to a segment of students who might have never applied in the past.”

What is Direct2UH?

Direct2UH is a simplified enrollment pathway that allows eligible graduating seniors from Hawaiʻi public high schools to secure their spot at one of nine University of Hawaiʻi campuses — all without filling out a traditional application or paying a single fee.

With just one simple Campus Choice form, students can unlock their future at UH Hilo, UH West Oʻahu, or any of the seven UH Community Colleges.

The program uses a student’s high school GPA to automatically match them with the campuses they qualify for:

• 2.7 GPA or higher: Students are instantly qualified for admission to UH Hilo, UH West Oʻahu, and all seven UH Community Colleges. Eligible students can select up to three campuses on their form (including two four-year universities and one community college).

• 2.69 GPA and below: Students are qualified for all seven UH Community College campuses, providing an excellent stepping stone for their higher education journey.

From high school to UH Hilo: Direct2UH is making graduation dreams a reality for more local students than ever before.

UH Mānoa is not currently participating in the Direct2UH program this year, though students can still apply there directly.

Officials say the process is intended to be stress-free by eliminating daunting paperwork. To claim their spot, students simply visit direct2uh.org and enter their name, HIDOE student ID number, date of birth, and GPA. Once their records are securely matched, they are notified of their accepted campus and can submit their Direct2UH Campus Choice form to officially declare their major and secure their enrollment.

This special opportunity is exclusively for Fall 2026 admissions. The final deadline to submit the Direct2UH Campus Choice form is May 1, 2026, but students are highly encouraged to make their selections as soon as possible!

As a university community, we play a vital role in encouraging the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators. If you know a high school student graduating from a public school this May, make sure they know about Direct2UH and encourage them to consider UH Hilo as their 4-year campus of choice! Let’s work together to help Hawaiʻi’s students take that exciting next step in their educational journeys!