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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa · Hawaii

UH Mānoa Merit Aid

UH Mānoa publishes a clean GPA-banded Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship grid (new criteria starting Fall 2026) plus a small set of higher-tier 'New Warrior' awards — Regents (full tuition + stipend), Provost ($10,000/yr), and Mānoa Excellence (resident-rate tuition for out-of-state students) — and lets WUE-state students pay 150% of resident tuition with scholarships stackable on top.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK
Merit tiers11See requirements
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK

Rules that bite at UH Mānoa

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from UH Mānoa's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • renewalRegents Scholarship (New Warrior Scholarships): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    Maintain a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or higher; to be reviewed for eligibility every semester; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa; Engaged in the Honors Program. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

  • capHard $33,696 cost-of-attendance ceiling

    Institutional aid at UH Mānoa cannot push the package past $33,696. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

Common merit-aid mistakes at UH Mānoa

  1. Every Office of Admissions merit scholarship page carries the same rule: 'If a student is offered more than one merit award by the Office of Admissions, they may only accept one of the awards.'

  2. UH Mānoa's Receiving Additional Assistance policy caps all aid plus scholarships at the Cost of Attendance and requires immediate notification to Financial Aid Services. Its worked example shows a financial aid package 'revised dollar-for-dollar' when a student at the COA received $5,000 in private and departmental scholarships. Failure to notify FAS may delay disbursement or require repayment to the university.

  3. For students awarded in Fall 2026 and later, renewal now requires a 3.20 undergraduate cumulative GPA AND enrolling and earning at least 12 credits per semester — a major jump from the 2.00 GPA standard that applies only to students awarded in/prior to Fall 2025.

  4. Students must apply for admission by January 5 and submit the supplemental NWS application (activities list + community-impact essay) by January 15. These higher-tier awards are only made for fall starts, with decisions around early March.

  5. Regents covers tuition plus a $4,000/year stipend and $2,000 one-time travel grant, but the 2026-2027 Hawaiʻi-resident on-campus Cost of Attendance is $33,696 — far more than the $11,760 tuition. The UH System page itself warns the award 'does not cover the full Cost of Attendance' and urges scholars to file the FAFSA.

  6. Regents requires maintaining a 3.5 GPA 'reviewed for eligibility every semester' plus full-time enrollment and Honors Program engagement; Provost, Mānoa Excellence, and International Excellence require a 3.0 GPA reviewed every semester plus full-time enrollment. One bad semester can trigger a review.

  7. The WUE page states it is a tuition reduction program, not a scholarship (scholarships/grants can stack on top), and the registrar notes the University 'reserves the right to limit WUE awards each academic year based on enrollment projections.' Also, WUE participants cannot start establishing Hawaiʻi residency for tuition until one year after terminating WUE, and effective Spring 2027 the WUE rate applies only to UH Mānoa registration.

  8. The Office of Admissions awards these 'throughout the application season and as long as scholarships are available' and explicitly encourages students 'to apply as early in the application season as possible to maximize their chances.' The award is also restricted to students who begin in the fall semester immediately following high school completion.

Who this school is for

Hawaiʻi-resident students with a 3.2+ high school GPA get guaranteed-consideration tuition discounts, and 3.7+ residents can compete for full-tuition Regents or $10,000/yr Provost awards; out-of-state students from WUE states pay 150% of resident tuition and can still win merit on top of it.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $33,696 for 2026-2027. Source

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.

$2,500-$4,000 per year

Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship — Hawaiʻi Residents

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.20+ cumulative high school GPA (banded: 3.20-3.49 = $2,500; 3.50-3.69 = $3,000; 3.70+ = $4,000)
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Hawaiʻi resident; first-year, degree-seeking student enrolling in the fall semester following high school diploma completion; no separate application, but selection is by holistic review and awards continue only 'as long as scholarships are available'

Renewal terms

Students Awarded in Fall 2026 and later: Maintain a 3.20 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher; Enroll and earn at least 12 credits per semester at Mānoa.

Notes

Awarded for 4 years (8 consecutive semesters); applied toward and reduces tuition. New amounts/criteria begin with students enrolling Fall 2026.

Source

$2,000 per year

Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship — U.S. citizen, Hawaiʻi non-resident, WUE eligible

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.50+ cumulative high school GPA
Requirements & details
Eligibility

U.S. citizen, Hawaiʻi non-resident, WUE eligible; first-year student enrolling the fall after high school

Renewal terms

Students Awarded in Fall 2026 and later: Maintain a 3.20 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher; Enroll and earn at least 12 credits per semester at Mānoa.

Notes

Stacks on top of the WUE reduced tuition rate (WUE page states scholarships and grants can be awarded in addition to WUE).

Source

$4,000 per year

Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship — U.S. citizen, Hawaiʻi non-resident

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.70+ cumulative high school GPA
Requirements & details
Eligibility

U.S. citizen, Hawaiʻi non-resident (not WUE-eligible); first-year student enrolling the fall after high school

Renewal terms

Students Awarded in Fall 2026 and later: Maintain a 3.20 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher; Enroll and earn at least 12 credits per semester at Mānoa.

Notes

Against 2026-2027 non-resident tuition of $33,792, this is a modest discount.

Source

Full tuition for 4 years…Full tuition for 4 years + $4,000/year stipend + $2,000 one-time travel grant

Regents Scholarship (New Warrior Scholarships)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.7+ cumulative high school GPA to be considered (Mānoa page); UH System page states 3.8 GPA for UH Mānoa — conflict, see Section C
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Hawaiʻi residents only; first-year students enrolling the fall after high school; must apply for admission by January 5 and submit supplemental NWS materials (activities list + community-impact essay) by January 15; historically ~16 awards/year; Regents Scholars are also Honors Program Scholars

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or higher; to be reviewed for eligibility every semester; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa; Engaged in the Honors Program.

Notes

Full tuition is not full cost of attendance (2026-27 resident on-campus COA is $33,696 vs $11,760 tuition). As of Fall 2024 the on-campus housing requirement was dropped. If offered more than one Admissions merit award, students may only accept one.

Source

$10,000 per year for 4 years

Provost Achievement Scholarship (New Warrior Scholarships)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.7+ cumulative high school GPA to be considered
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Hawaiʻi residents only; first-year students enrolling the fall after high school; admission application by January 5, supplemental NWS materials by January 15; historically ~80 awards/year

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher; to be reviewed for eligibility every semester; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa.

Notes

The largest-volume high-tier award for residents (~80/year vs ~16 Regents). Only one Admissions merit award may be accepted.

Source

Approximately $22,032/year for 4 ye…Approximately $22,032/year for 4 years (non-WUE) or approximately $5,652/year for 4 years (WUE-eligible) — brings cost down to Hawaiʻi resident tuition rates

Mānoa Excellence Scholarship (New Warrior Scholarships)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.7+ cumulative high school GPA to be considered
Requirements & details
Eligibility

U.S. citizens who are non-Hawaiʻi residents; first-year students enrolling the fall after high school; admission application by January 5, supplemental NWS materials by January 15; historically ~15 awards/year

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher; to be reviewed for eligibility every semester; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa.

Notes

Effectively erases the non-resident (or WUE) tuition premium so the student pays the resident rate. Dollar figures on the page appear computed from an earlier tuition year (see Section C).

Source

Approximately $22,032 per year for…Approximately $22,032 per year for 4 years (equivalent to paying Hawaiʻi resident tuition rates)

Mānoa International Excellence Scholarship (New Warrior Scholarships)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.7+ cumulative high school GPA to be considered
Requirements & details
Eligibility

International, non-U.S. citizens who require an F-1 Visa to enroll; first-year students enrolling the fall after high school; admission by January 5, supplemental materials by January 15; historically ~5 awards/year

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher; to be reviewed for eligibility every semester; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa.

Notes

Only one Admissions merit award may be accepted.

Source

150% of the resident tuition rate…150% of the resident tuition rate (page cites approximately $16,380 per academic year for 2023-2024)

International Merit Award Scholarship

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.3+ cumulative high school/secondary GPA (first-year) or 3.3+ college GPA (transfer)
Requirements & details
Eligibility

First-year and transfer degree-seeking students requiring an F-1 Visa; no separate application; priority deadlines November 1 (spring enrollment) and June 1 (fall enrollment); not available to second-bachelor's students or students with resident tuition status under HB1170 HD1

Renewal terms

Maintain a 2.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa.

Notes

No longer automatic as of Fall 2024; the page says most students who apply by priority deadlines and meet criteria are expected to be awarded. The dollar figure on the page is for 2023-2024 (stale; see Section C).

Source

Full tuition for 2 years…Full tuition for 2 years + $4,000/year stipend + $2,000 one-time travel grant

Presidential Scholarship (Upper-level Scholarship Programs)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.7+ college GPA to be considered
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Hawaiʻi residents; incoming transfer students or continuing Mānoa students with junior class standing by end of spring semester; admission application by March 1, supplemental application by March 15; historically ~10 awards/year; Presidential Scholars are Honors Program Scholars

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or higher; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa; Engaged in the Honors Program.

Notes

This is the transfer/rising-junior counterpart to the freshman Regents award. Fall start only.

Source

$2,000 per year for 2 years

Transfer Merit Scholarship (Upper-level Scholarship Programs)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
3.3+ college GPA to be considered
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Incoming transfer students, all residency types, all class standings; admission application by March 1, supplemental application (activities list + essay) by March 15; fall start only

Renewal terms

Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher; Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa.

Notes

Requires the same supplemental materials as the selective awards — it is not automatic.

Source

Reduced tuition at 150% of resident…Reduced tuition at 150% of resident rate (WUE page cites $16,956)

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) tuition rate

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Legal resident of a WUE region: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, and American Samoa, CNMI, FSM, Guam, RMI; all undergraduate majors qualify; determined from the admission application; not available to 2nd-bachelor students admitted prior to Fall 2020, unclassified students, or A Semester In Hawaiʻi exchange students

Renewal terms

You can keep your WUE status as long as you are a continuing undergraduate student and do not change state of residency. Students need to register for at least one credit each semester. If there is a break in attendance, not including summer, without a formal leave of absence, you must re-apply for admissions to be considered for WUE.

Notes

Not a scholarship — a tuition reduction program; the page explicitly states scholarships and grants can be awarded in addition to WUE. The university reserves the right to limit WUE awards. Participating in WUE blocks establishing Hawaiʻi residency until one year after terminating WUE. Effective Spring 2027, WUE benefits are restricted to UH Mānoa registration only.

Source

Outside scholarship stacking policy

Two distinct rules: (1) among the Office of Admissions merit awards themselves, a student offered more than one may only accept ONE; (2) all aid plus scholarships/additional assistance (including private, Kamehameha, UH Foundation, and departmental scholarships) cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance — when it does, the financial aid package is reduced dollar-for-dollar, and students must notify Financial Aid Services of any outside assistance immediately.

The Receiving Additional Assistance policy requires students to notify FAS immediately of any other assistance (e.g., Kamehameha/Hawaiʻi Community Foundation/UH Foundation scholarships, tuition waivers, stipends, fellowships). Per federal regulations, financial aid (grants, work-study, loans) plus scholarships/additional assistance cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance. The page's worked example shows a $20,000 aid package reduced by $5,000 (dollar-for-dollar) when the student receives $5,000 in private and departmental scholarships. The page does not state which aid component (loans vs. grants) is reduced first. Separately, each Admissions merit scholarship page states that students offered more than one merit award by the Office of Admissions may only accept one.

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at UH Mānoa

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

AmountUp to $2,000EligibilityUndergraduates who graduated from a State of Hawaiʻi public high school after 2005 with a cumulative 3.0+ high school GPA, completed a rigorous high school curriculum, demonstrate financial need, and enroll in at least 12 applicable credits.

Funding is limited; depending upon available funding, may be renewed annually up to four years for students maintaining satisfactory academic progress. FAFSA required for consideration.

Source

AmountUp to $2,000 based on enrollment statusEligibilityNative Hawaiian ancestry; priority to Hawaiʻi residents; demonstrated financial need; first-time bachelor's degree seeker enrolled in at least 6 UH Mānoa credits.

Funding is limited; may be prorated or revised below 12 applicable credits.

Source

AmountUp to $2,200EligibilityHonors students in good standing; competition supporting cost of attendance and/or independent research and creative projects; promotes faculty-student mentorship.

Due date: February; apply via the University of Hawaiʻi Student Scholarship website.

Source

AmountVaries based on scholarshipEligibilityHawaiʻi residents with demonstrated financial need enrolled in at least 12 applicable credits; must complete application and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Administered by Financial Aid Services; some require a separate application announced by email; FAFSA encouraged by the February 1 deadline.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityNeed-based tuition waivers for undergraduate and classified graduate Native Hawaiian students, provided by Kuaʻana Native Hawaiian Student Development Services.

Listed on the FAS scholarships hub page.

Source

UH Mānoa merit aid FAQ

  • What are the deadlines for UH Mānoa's top freshman merit scholarships (Regents, Provost, Mānoa Excellence)?

    Apply for admission by January 5 and submit the supplemental New Warrior Scholarship materials (activities/achievements list and a 250-400 word community-impact essay) by January 15. Committees review in January-February and notify applicants around early March. These awards are only made for fall-semester starts.

  • What are the deadlines for transfer students (Presidential and Transfer Merit Scholarships)?

    Apply for admission by March 1 and submit the supplemental application by March 15. Decisions are announced around early May, and the scholarships are only awarded for fall starts.

  • Is there an automatic scholarship just for grades?

    There is no separate application for the Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship — admitted first-year students are considered from their admission application. For Fall 2026 entrants, Hawaiʻi residents receive $2,500 (3.20-3.49 GPA), $3,000 (3.50-3.69), or $4,000 (3.70+); WUE-eligible non-residents receive $2,000 at 3.50+; other non-residents receive $4,000 at 3.70+. However, selection involves a holistic review and awards continue only 'as long as scholarships are available,' so it is not a guaranteed automatic award.

  • Do I need to file the FAFSA, and when?

    FAFSA is required for the Financial Aid Services scholarships (e.g., B Plus, Second Century), and FAS encourages completing the FAFSA by the February 1 deadline. The UH System Regents/Presidential page also strongly encourages scholars to complete the FAFSA (priority deadline February 1) since the scholarship does not cover the full Cost of Attendance.

  • Will an outside scholarship reduce my financial aid?

    It can. You must notify Financial Aid Services immediately of any additional assistance. Per federal regulations, your aid plus scholarships cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance; UH Mānoa's published example shows an aid package reduced dollar-for-dollar by $5,000 when a student at the COA received $5,000 in private and departmental scholarships.

  • How does WUE interact with merit scholarships?

    WUE is a tuition reduction program (150% of resident tuition), not a scholarship, so 'scholarships and grants can be awarded in addition to WUE.' WUE-eligible students have their own Academic Merit band ($2,000/year at 3.50+ GPA) and a WUE-specific Mānoa Excellence amount (~$5,652/year, bringing them to the resident rate).

  • What does UH Mānoa cost for 2026-2027?

    Per the official 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance: Hawaiʻi residents $30,088 (with parents), $33,696 (on-campus), $39,580 (off-campus); non-residents $52,120 / $55,728 / $61,612; WUE/Pacific Island Jurisdiction students $35,968 / $39,576 / $45,460. Resident tuition is $11,760, non-resident $33,792, WUE $17,640 (12 credits/semester).

  • What GPA do I need to keep my scholarship?

    Mānoa Academic Merit (Fall 2026+ awards): 3.20 cumulative GPA and earn 12+ credits per semester. Regents and Presidential: 3.5 GPA, full-time enrollment, and Honors Program engagement (Regents reviewed every semester). Provost, Mānoa Excellence, International Excellence, Transfer Merit: 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment. International Merit Award: 2.0 GPA and full-time enrollment.

How UH Mānoa compares across our verified dataset

  • 160 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    UH Mānoa is in a recognizable cluster (160 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    UH Mānoa 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.

  • 133 of 751 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.

    UH Mānoa is one of them. NMF packages typically carry their own stacking and renewal carve-outs separate from the standard automatic merit ladder; confirm those before assuming the headline NMF value is final.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against UH Mānoa’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

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