Need-based and/or merit-based gift aid that does not need to be repaid!
Federal Pell Grant:
- A federal grant for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Beginning Fall 2012, students are limited to 12 full-time semesters (or 600%) of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. Students may track their Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (PLEU).
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG):
- A federal grant for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Students must have exceptional financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Generally, students must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- Funding is limited.
Opportunity Grant:
- An institutional grant.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- Funding is limited.
Second Century Scholarship:
- An institutional grant for Native Hawaiian students.
- Students must be Hawai‘i residents.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- Funding is limited.
Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver:
- An institutional grant for Native Hawaiian students.
- Students must be Hawai‘i residents.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- Funding is limited.
Hawaii B Plus Scholarship:
- A scholarship for recent public Hawaii high school graduates pursuing their first degree.
- Students must be Hawai‘i residents.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of full-time status (12 credits).
- Funding is limited.
- To apply, students must submit an official high school transcript that reflects a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and completion of a rigorous high school curriculum.
Hawaii Promise Scholarship:
- A scholarship for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Students must be Hawai‘i residents or qualify for exempt status that pays in-state tuition.
- Students must have financial needs based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- Funding is limited.
Loan Information – What Do I Need to Know Before I Borrow?
Federal Student Loans
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provides students Subsidized and Unsubsidized and Parent PLUS loans from the Department of Education. Awards are determined by using the information provided on the FAFSA and your Cost of Attendance. The amount of your awards also depends on your Dependency Status and Grade Level.
-
- Direct SUBSIDIZED loans are offered to students who demonstrate financial need. Interest is paid by the federal government while the student is enrolled at least half-time status (6 credits or more) and up to 6 months after graduation.
- Direct UNSUBSIDIZED loans are typically offered to students who do not demonstrate financial need. The student is responsible for interest during all periods, from the time the loan is disbursed. If the student does not pay the interest while they are in school and during grace periods, deferment periods, or forbearance periods, the interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (added to the principal amount of the loan).
Interest Rates
Student loans are subject to interest rates which may be variable/fixed. View current interest rates.
Loan Fees
Student loans are subject to a loan fee of approximately 1% of your loan, which will be automatically deducted from each loan disbursement.
Disbursement
All student loans require two separate disbursements, one at the beginning of the loan period and the second at the midpoint of the loan period. In addition, first-year, first-time borrowers are required to complete 30 days of their first semester before receiving their first loan disbursement.
Repayment
Repayment begins six months (grace period) after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time, graduate, completely withdraw, transfer, or stop attending classes.
Annual Loan Limits
| DEPENDENCY STATUS & GRADE LEVEL | ANNUAL BASE (SUBSIDIZED & UNSUBSIDIZED) | ADDITIONAL UNSUBSIDIZED | ANNUAL MAXIMUM COMBINED LIMIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Freshman | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Dependent Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Independent Freshman | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Independent Sophomore | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
Aggregate Loan Limits
| AGGREGATE (LIFETIME) LIMITS FOR SUBSIDIZED AND UNSUBSIDIZED LOANS | SUBSIDIZED | TOTAL (SUBSIDIZED & UNSUBSIDIZED) |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent Undergraduates | $23,000 | $31,000 |
| Independent undergraduates & dependent students whose parents are Ineligible for the PLUS Loan | $23,000 | $57,500 |
Before you decide to borrow and how much to borrow, consider how much financing you will need to cover your educational cost.
|
Student A: Full time student – 12 credits each semester |
|
|---|---|
| Financial aid offered | Pell Grant: $7,395 Loan: $5,500 |
| Direct costs to attend college full time | Tuition: $3,144 Fees: $79 Books/Supplies: $1,350 Total educational cost: $4,573/year |
| Off-campus living costs | Student plans to live at home with parents and has some savings, so decides there will be no additional living expenses that need to be covered (housing, food, or transportation and personal expenses). |
Since the Pell Grant is more than enough to cover the direct costs, Student A decides they do not need a loan at this time.
|
Student B: Full time student – 12 credits each semester |
|
|---|---|
| Financial aid offered | Pell Grant: $7,395 Loan: $10,500 |
| Direct costs to attend college full time | Tuition: $3,144 Fees: $79 Books/Supplies: $1,350 Total educational cost: $4,573/year |
| Off-campus living costs | Student lives off-campus with roommate. Rent/utilities: $1000/month Groceries: $400/month Transportation: $150/month Personal Expenses: $100/month Total living cost per month: $1,650 Total living cost (9 months): $14,850 |
| Part-time work | Earns $1,000/month Total: $9,000 for 9 months |
| Total cost to attend full-time | Total educational cost: $4,573 Total living cost: $14,850 Total: $19,423 Pell Grant: ($7,395) Student Income: ($9,000) Student needs approximately $3,527 to cover remaining cost |
Student considers options such as decreasing expenses, increasing work hours and applying for scholarships. If options don’t work out, student may borrow up to $10,500 to cover the difference.
|
Student A: Half time student – 6 credits each semester |
|
|---|---|
| Financial aid offered | Pell Grant: $3,698 Loan: $5,500 |
| Direct costs to attend college full time | Tuition: $1,572 Fees: $79 Books/Supplies: $1,350 Total educational cost: $3,001/year |
| Off-campus living costs | Student plans to live at home with parents and has some savings, so decides there will be no additional living expenses that need to be covered (housing, food, or transportation and personal expenses). |
Since the Pell Grant is more than enough to cover the direct costs, Student A decides they do not need a loan at this time.
|
Student B: Half time student – 6 credits each semester |
|
|---|---|
| Financial aid offered | Pell Grant: $3,698 Loan: $10,500 |
| Direct costs to attend college full time | Tuition: $1,572 Fees: $79 Books/Supplies: $1,350 Total educational cost: $3,001/year |
| Off-campus living costs | Student lives off-campus with roommate. Rent/utilities: $1000/month Groceries: $400/month Transportation: $150/month Personal Expenses: $100/month Total living cost per month: $1,650 Total living cost (9 months): $14,850 |
| Part-time work | Earns $1,000/month Total: $9,000 for 9 months |
| Total cost to attend full-time | Total educational cost: $3,001 Total living cost: $14,850 Total: $17,851 Pell Grant: ($3,698) Student Income: ($9,000) Student needs approximately $5,153 to cover remaining cost |
Student considers options such as decreasing expenses, increasing work hours and applying for scholarships. If options don’t work out, student may borrow up to $10,500 to cover the difference.
If you are interested in applying for a student loan, complete the Loan Request Form:
Additional Information about Student Loans
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans
How Much Have I Borrowed?
If you are a previous borrower, to review your outstanding balance and preview what your monthly payments might be:
-
- Go to Federal Student Aid
- Log in with your FSA ID and password
- Under your name on the top right corner, click on “My Aid”
Financial aid is earned through part-time student employment at a job on, or near campus.
Federal Work Study:
- Funds for students who have financial needs are based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
- Students must indicate interest in Federal Work Study on their FAFSA.
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
- Requires a minimum enrollment of half-time status (6 credits).
- May be used for employment at Leeward CC only.
- Funding is limited.
- To be placed on our Federal Work Study Waitlist, students should email our office and provide the following information: Name, UH ID# or username, status of employment, and contact phone number.
- View Federal Work-Study job openings online.
Contact Information
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Please use your UH email account when communicating with us via email. Please also include your student ID # in your message. If you do not have a UH email account, “Get a UH Username!” to create an account. Our response time for emailed questions may take an estimated 3–5 business days during peak times.
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Address:
96-045 Ala Ike, AD 201 (Student Services Welcome Center)
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: (808) 455-0606
Fax: (808) 454-8804
Email: lccfao@hawaii.edu
Federal School Code: 004549
Get more information about other scholarships, including the UH Common Scholarship Application, and External (non-UH System) Scholarships.