Holomua Commitment

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a number that determines students' eligibility for federal student aid. The EFC formulas use the financial information students provide on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to calculate the EFC. This year, the FAFSA is available starting on October 1, 2022 and will use income and tax information from 2021.

Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA®), and is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year. The EFC is used in the college financial aid process in the United States to determine an applicant's eligibility for need-based federal student aid, and in many cases, state and institutional (college) aid. For more information, go to: https://studentaid.gov

HPU is committed to meeting 100% of your unmet tuition need. For example, if your family’s EFC was $0.00 and you are admitted to the University, you can expect a financial aid package that will equal the 2023/2024 tuition rate, consisting of a combination of federal grants, institutional scholarships and grants, and federal student loans.

Example #1

Student files the FAFSA and it is determined that their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is $0.00.

The student’s financial aid award, with an EFC of $0.00, would include federal grants, federal student loans, and would include an institutional award from HPU (merit scholarship and/or need-based grant) in excess of $16,500.

 Example #2

Student files the FAFSA and it is determined that their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is $10,000.

The student’s financial aid award, with an EFC of $10,000, would include federal student loans and would include an institutional award from HPU (merit scholarship and/or need-based grant) in excess of $13,000.

Example #3

Student files the FAFSA and it is determined that their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is higher than the 2023/2024 tuition rate. 

The student’s financial aid award, with an EFC higher than the 2023/2024 tuition rate, would include federal student loans and a merit scholarship, if earned. Merit scholarships can typically range between $3,000 - $15,000 per year.

To qualify for this program, the student must be admitted to and enrolled at HPU as a full-time, first-time freshman or transfer student (who has not yet earned a bachelor’s degree) in the Fall of 2023 and must meet one of the following:

(i) be a graduate, or anticipated graduate from a high school within the State of Hawai'i

OR

(ii) must meet certain qualifications to be deemed a Hawai‘i resident for purposes of this program as set forth below.

Yes, any student meeting the following qualifications shall be deemed a Hawaii resident for the purposes of this program: 

1. The student, if aged 18 or older or, if the student is under 18, his/her parents or legal guardians have:

1. Demonstrated intent to permanently reside in Hawaiʻi (see below for approved ways to provide evidence)

2. Been physically present in Hawaiʻi for the 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction

3. The student, whether adult or minor, has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction by his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who are not legal residents of Hawaiʻi, except where part of a lawful custody arrangement and the other parent and the student otherwise meet the criteria herein.

    

2. Evidence of Residence: The determination of residence requires a finding of intent to establish domicile in Hawai‘i while relinquishing any prior domicile plus the physical presence in Hawai‘i, as outlined above. No single evidence shall be deemed conclusive. Evidence of residence shall include the following, if the student (18 or older) or, for students under 18, his/her parents or legal guardians evidence:

• Voting, voter registration or both in Hawai‘i;

• Filing Hawaii resident personal income taxes;

• Ownership of a residential property or continuous rental of a dwelling;

• Carrying on a business or the holding of an employment position in Hawai‘i;

• Hawaii Driver’s license or State identification card;

• Presence of parent, spouse, children, other close relatives or hanai family in Hawai‘i.

If you receive a merit scholarship, it will be renewed on an annual basis provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements listed on your original financial aid award letter from HPU. If you are receiving an institutional need-based grant, it is your responsibility to refile the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. In your remaining two, three, or four years, HPU remains committed to providing institutional aid to meet your unmet tuition need through a combination of federal grants, institutional scholarships and grants, and federal student loans. Provided your level of need remains the same, you can expect to receive the same amount of institutional aid in year two. However, if your EFC were to change in subsequent years, your institutional need-based grant may be adjusted. Also, if you were to be accepted into the Level 1 Nursing Program, it is possible, depending on your EFC, that you may be left with some unmet tuition need given the difference in tuition rate between the Nursing (Level 1 and above) and the regular tuition rate. The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year (for reference, go to: studentaid.ed.gov).

HPU is committed to meet 100% of unmet tuition need for the regular undergraduate tuition rate only. Therefore, you can expect your financial aid award (combination of federal grants, federal student loans, and institutional scholarships and grants) to reflect aid equal to at least the Regular and Scholars Programs tuition rate. It is possible, depending on your EFC, that you may be left with some unmet tuition need given the difference in tuition rate between the Nursing (Level 1 and above) and the regular tuition rate.