MA/DMS Financial Aid

GENERAL FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Graduate Education is an important and exciting investment in your future. The return on time, effort, enthusiasm, and money will reap lifelong dividends--personal satisfaction, increased earnings, and career advancement.

A variety of financial support opportunities are available to help make your education at Hawai'i Pacific University more affordable. Depending on your status--full time, part time, and the number of credits your are taking, you may be eligible to apply for several types of financial aid, including federal loans, University scholarships, assistantships, and private financing.

Hawai'i Pacific University administers an annual multi-million dollar financial aid program. Like other colleges and universities, Hawai'i Pacific University requires all students who wish to be considered for federal programs to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may be obtained from any college financial aid office or bank. If you have Internet access, you can file the FAFSA online (see below). It takes 3-4 weeks to process the form and to provide HPU with the information it needs to process your financial aid award.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
The subsidized Stafford loan is a need based, federally assisted program that enables eligible graduate students to borrow a maximum of $8,500 each academic year. The federal government subsidizes interest while the student is enrolled at least half time. Repayment of principal and interest begins six months after the student graduates (or six months after the student is enrolled less than half time).

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
The unsubsidized Stafford loan is similar to the subsidized Stafford loan; however, you will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until the loan is paid in full. Borrowers may make quarterly payments or may have interest capitalized (added to the loan principal). Eligible graduate students may borrow up to a combined total of $18,500 (subsidized and unsubsidized loans). Please refer to the Financial Aid Student Guide distributed by the U.S. Department of Education for complete details on the Stafford Loan program.