M.Ed. Financial Aid
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. You can file the FAFSA online if you have Internet access. Use the link located at the bottom of the page. It takes three-four 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 Student Guide distributed by the U.S. Department of Education for complete details on the Stafford Loan program. Use the link located at the bottom of the page to access the online version of the guide.
Teacher Education Assistance for Higher Education
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If, after reading all of the information on this fact sheet, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office.
Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teacher
Teachers can receive a $5,000 loan forgiveness if they are a highly qualified full-time elementary or secondary school teacher in a low income school for a period of 5 years. Math, science and special education teachers teaching at a low income school for five years will be eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness.
For information on this program please click on the link in the left hand navigation to view a PDF file with information about the program.
