Chaminade pairs an automatic GPA-banded merit grid (up to $21,000/year for first-years) with a distinctive Hawai'i Guarantee that adjusts tuition, after institutional aid, down to the in-state rate at Hawai'i's public flagship university for Hawai'i high school graduates.
Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK
Merit tiers52 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK
Rules that bite at Chaminade
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Chaminade's own published policy, not generic advice.
displacementNo published displacement order
Chaminade's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Chaminade
Every tier on the merit grid is stated as an 'Up to' amount (e.g., Regents 3.75+ GPA — 'Up to $21,000'), and the page says merit awards 'range from $4,000 to $21,000.' A 3.75 GPA qualifies you for the Regents tier but does not guarantee the full $21,000.
The merit-aid page states awards 'are valid for a total of four (4) academic years / eight (8) semesters' and 'Should a student require additional semesters, the merit scholarship will cease to be applied to the account. Additionally, the merit scholarships do not apply to Summer semesters.'
The merit-aid page footnote states plainly: 'International students are not eligible for merit scholarships.'
The Hawai'i Guarantee is awarded AFTER institutional aid and 'adjusts your tuition cost, after institutional aid, to meet the in-state undergraduate tuition at Hawaii's public flagship university.' It tops your aid up to the UH in-state tuition level; it is not an additional stackable discount below that level.
The Hawai'i Guarantee page lists 'All majors excluding Nursing,' and its FAQ states transfer students, online Flex students, current students, and non-degree students are not eligible. It is only for first-time freshmen Hawai'i high school graduates in the day undergraduate program.
The FAQ warns: 'Students must be continuously enrolled for consecutive semesters to receive the Hawaii Guarantee. If a student takes a break in enrollment without an official leave of absence, the student can return to Chaminade but will need to pay Chaminade's posted regular tuition rate.' It is also only renewable for three years (four years of coverage total) and does not apply to summer.
The scholarships page states: 'Due to the fluctuating nature of these institutional funds, these are one-time only scholarships and not renewed each year.'
Renewal 'is dependent upon engagement in programming..., completion of 15 hours of service each semester, in reflection upon that service, and maintaining good academic standing' — miss the service hours and the award can be lost. It is also capped at four years (eight semesters).
Mu'o covers tuition and books but students 'will only need to pay the technology fee for each course (currently $93/course)'; it covers up to 120 credits for a maximum of five to six years, and 'Funding will not extend beyond June 2032.' Fall 2026 is the final cohort.
Who this school is for
Strongest fit for Hawai'i high school graduates, who can stack the automatic GPA-based merit award with the Hawai'i Guarantee tuition match; mainland students with a 3.75+ GPA can earn up to $21,000/year automatically with no separate application.
Institutional merit aid tiers
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
$4,000-$21,000
First-Year Merit Scholarship (AY 2026–2027)
AutomaticRenewable
GPA
2.50+ GPA (Leadership) up to 3.75+ GPA (Regents); award tier based on GPA
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
New incoming Day Undergraduate first-year students; automatically considered at admission, no separate application. International students are not eligible.
Renewal terms
Valid for a total of four (4) academic years / eight (8) semesters; ceases if additional semesters are required; does not apply to Summer semesters.
Notes
All tier amounts are stated as 'Up to' figures: Regents (3.75+) up to $21,000; Presidential (3.50+) up to $19,000; Chancellor (3.25+) up to $14,000; Dean (3.00+) up to $11,000; Leadership (2.50+) up to $8,000.
2.00+ GPA (Leadership) up to 3.50+ GPA (Regents); award tier based on GPA
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
New incoming Day Undergraduate transfer students; automatically considered at admission, no separate application. International students are not eligible.
Renewal terms
Same policy as first-year merit: valid for a total of four (4) academic years / eight (8) semesters; does not apply to Summer semesters.
Notes
All tier amounts are stated as 'Up to' figures: Regents (3.50+) up to $12,000; Presidential (3.00+) up to $9,000; Dean (2.50+) up to $7,000; Leadership (2.00+) up to $4,000.
Amount varies…Amount varies (adjusts tuition, after institutional aid, to the in-state undergraduate tuition rate at Hawai'i's public flagship university)
Hawai'i Guarantee Scholarship
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Hawaii high school senior graduate; first-time college student / incoming freshman; first-time bachelor degree-seeking, full-time (12-18 credits/semester); must complete the FAFSA; all majors excluding Nursing; Day Undergraduate program only (not Flex online, not transfers, not non-degree).
Renewal terms
Hawaii Guarantee is renewable for three years; covers up to four years of undergraduate study; students must be continuously enrolled for consecutive semesters or the student returns at Chaminade's posted regular tuition rate; does not apply to Summer Session.
Notes
No separate scholarship application; Chaminade application + FAFSA by June 1 deadline. Pell Grants can still be applied in addition.
Incoming freshmen who will graduate from a Marianist or Catholic High School in the US/US Territory OR are a member of a Catholic Parish in the US/US Territory. Separate application plus resume, two 250-word-minimum essays, and one reference required; FAFSA recommended.
Renewal terms
May be renewed a total of four years (eight semesters). Renewal is dependent upon engagement in programming, completion of 15 hours of service each semester, reflection upon that service, and maintaining good academic standing.
Notes
Priority Deadline: January 15, 2026; Final Deadline: April 1, 2026.
Resident of Hawai'i; new Chaminade students entering the 100% online teacher-preparation program (BS in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education with Montessori Credential, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education); Chaminade application and official transcripts. FAFSA not required. Scholarship preference may be given to applicants with a background in Native Hawaiian cultural, linguistic, or community engagement.
Renewal terms
Renews automatically each year as long as the student remains eligible and makes satisfactory academic progress; requires minimum 6 credits per term and good academic standing; covers up to 120 credits for a maximum of five to six years; funding will not extend beyond June 2032.
Notes
Partnership with Kamehameha Schools; covers tuition and books (and residential stay for neighbor-island students for in-person sessions) but NOT the $93/course technology fee. Fall 2026 is the FINAL Mu'o cohort; application deadline May 1, 2026.
Chaminade does not publish a general institutional stacking or outside-scholarship displacement policy on its financial-aid pages. The only stated combination rule is for the Hawai'i Guarantee: it is awarded AFTER institutional aid is applied (it tops up to the UH in-state tuition level rather than stacking on top), and Pell Grants can still be applied in addition to it. Need-based aid is capped at demonstrated financial need.
Hawai'i Guarantee page: the award 'adjusts your tuition cost, after institutional aid, to meet the in-state undergraduate tuition at Hawaii's public flagship university'; 'Pell Grants can still be used/applied in addition to the Hawaii Guarantee Scholarship.' Scholarships page (need-based aid): 'The total aid awarded cannot exceed your demonstrated financial need.' How outside/private scholarships interact with institutional merit is not addressed on any page opened.
Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.
AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityReturning/continuing undergraduate students who meet academic criteria; some consider leadership, community service, or personal qualities; FAFSA required (deadline for FAFSA completion is May 1, 2026).
One-time only scholarships, not renewed each year. Application opens February 2; application deadline March 31; award notifications begin June 1.
AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityStudent-athletes in listed NCAA II sports (men's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer; women's basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball); awarded by the respective coach of each team.
Contact the Athletics Department directly for eligibility.
Do I need a separate application for Chaminade's merit scholarship?
No. 'New incoming Day Undergraduate first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for institutional merit-based scholarships at the time of admission with no separate application being required.'
What is the Hawai'i Guarantee deadline?
The Hawai'i Guarantee page says: 'Submit your Chaminade application and FAFSA to be considered for Hawai'i Guarantee. Deadline is June 1.' (No year is stated on the page.)
What is the Chaminade Scholars application deadline?
Priority Deadline: January 15, 2026; Final Deadline: April 1, 2026.
When should I file the FAFSA?
The financial-aid sidebar lists FAFSA Available: October 1, Filing Deadline: April 1 (Chaminade school code 001605). For donor-sponsored scholarships, the 'Deadline for FAFSA completion is May 1, 2026.'
What is the deadline for the Mu'o Scholarship (final cohort)?
Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort — the final Mu'o cohort — are due May 1, 2026.
How much does Chaminade cost for 2026-27?
For AY 2026–2027 (rates effective July 1, 2026), standard tuition is $32,754; with books & supplies ($2,000) and on-campus room & board ($18,760) the published 'Total Estimated Costs' is $53,514, plus other estimated expenses (personal $1,800, transportation $1,200, federal loan fees $134, tuition fee $114). BSN nursing tuition is $40,490 ($61,250 total with on-campus room & board).
How Chaminade compares across our verified dataset
199 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.
Chaminade is in a recognizable cluster (199 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
199 of 751 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.
Chaminade is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.
669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Chaminade is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Sources used on this page
Every claim is checked against Chaminade’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
