Hawaiʻi B+ Scholarship

Hawaiʻi B+ is a University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges scholarship for state residents graduating from a Hawaiʻi public high school and enrolling directly in an eligible institution. It is aimed at students with strong academic records and financial need; the GPA alone does not trigger an award. The financial-aid office verifies transcripts, residency, and FAFSA before packaging aid, which remains subject to funding and enrollment.

Campus guidance specifies a high-school cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, a rigorous curriculum, and financial need determined through FAFSA. It also requires Hawaiʻi residency, full-time enrollment, and starting in the academic year immediately after graduation from a state public high school. The rigorous-course definition includes English, math, science, and college-preparatory subjects; ask a counselor how each course is counted.

B+ is distinct from Hawaiʻi Promise and from general UH scholarships. Honolulu’s page lists an award of up to $2,000 and notes that amounts depend on enrollment, need, and other resources; other system pages may describe renewal differently. Confirm coverage and renewal with the particular campus, especially before transferring, reducing credits, or adding an outside scholarship.

The central step is completing FAFSA for the academic year and sending the official high-school transcript to the college financial-aid office. Timing matters: college enrollment must follow graduation directly rather than begin years later. Ask what “directly following” means if you took a gap term or completed dual enrollment, since public guidance does not settle every individual case.

Campuses may request additional proof of residency, admission, and need, and the award can change if enrollment or other resources change. Institutional guidance says renewal for another year may be possible when satisfactory progress is maintained; do not assume four years of coverage. Get the award letter in writing and ask whether the benefit posts as a tuition credit, covers fees, and when it disburses.

The scholarship is easiest to navigate when students prepare before graduation: check that required courses appear on the transcript, ask the counselor about electronic delivery, and file FAFSA for the correct year. Families unsure about financial need should still request an eligibility review. UH lists financial-aid offices for each campus; they can confirm remaining funds and explain how B+ coordinates with other grants.

Ask the financial-aid office for a written term-by-term estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, books, and other costs. Keep the award letter, records, and any service agreement. If your studies, residence, or course load change, contact the administrator before that decision affects your aid.

Official program information and application