Financial Aid Forms
For security purposes, all documents should be submitted by mail, in-person, or via UH FileDrop. Documents sent from a personal email address (anything other than @hawaii.edu) will not be accepted. Reporting false information is a violation of the law and may be considered a criminal offense. Students (and others, if applicable) are responsible for reading and understanding all information prior to signing.
To be eligible for financial aid, students must demonstrate they have the ability to benefit from a college education, which is defined as having graduated from high school or its equivalent. If we are unable to verify your ability to benefit, you will be required to complete the Ability to Benefit form so that we can determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Students can authorize other individuals, such as parents or family members, to speak with the Financial Aid Office (FAO) on their behalf. A new authorization is required every school year.
2023-2024 Authorization to Disclose Financial Aid Information (online form)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks students about their grade level and the type of degree they are pursuing. Some students mistakenly answer that they have already obtained a bachelor’s degree, or that they are pursuing a graduate or professional degree. This form may be required to verify that the information provided on the FAFSA is correct so that the student can be packaged for financial aid.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Department of Education (USDOE) has enacted the “Fresh Start” initiative, which is intended to alleviate negative effects for borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. As a result, until 9/30/2024, students who are ineligible for student aid solely because of defaulted federal student loans may submit the Fresh Start Acknowledgment form, at which time the Financial Aid Office (FAO) may be able to waive the student aid default requirements and package the student for financial aid. More information about the Fresh Start initiative is available on the USDOE Fresh Start web page.
Students who indicate they were in a legal guardianship on the FAFSA must provide a copy of the court’s decision that shows that they were in a court-ordered legal guardianship at the time of FAFSA completion, or at the time they reached the age of adulthood in their state. If you answered the FAFSA question incorrectly, you must correct your FAFSA and resubmit.
Hawai’i Community College has an agreement with Oregon State University (OSU) to allow certain courses taken at OSU to count toward a student’s enrollment level for financial aid funding. Additional requirements apply - see the form for details.
Oregon State University (OSU) Request for Funding for Consortium Classes (PDF form)
If a student has had previous student loans discharged due to a total and permanent disability (TPD), that student is not eligible to accept new student loans, unless their physician certifies that they are able to attend school and engage in substantial gainful activity (employment). Additionally, the student must acknowledge that future loans cannot be discharged based on present conditions, unless those conditions deteriorate to the extent that the TPD definition is met. The Physician's Certification and Borrower’s Acknowledgement of Obligation form allows students to either indicate that they do not wish to accept new student loans, or to obtain a physician’s certification and acknowledge their repayment obligations so that they can accept new student loans.
Physician’s Certification and Borrower’s Acknowledgement of Obligation (PDF form)
A student’s maximum total financial aid is limited to the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) budget. The Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustments form allows students to request an increase to their COA for certain costs not already included in the budget, such as childcare expenses or unusually high medical costs not covered by insurance. Processing time is 4 to 6 weeks, and requests will not be accepted later than 30 days before the last day of instruction.
2023-2024 Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustments (PDF form)
The Summer Financial Aid Application is to notify the Hawai'i CC Financial Aid Office (FAO) that you are enrolled, or intend to enroll, in degree-applicable summer coursework so that your account can be reviewed to determine your eligibility for Summer Pell Grant. After the summer Pell Recalculation Date (PRD), the FAO will review all student accounts and make adjustments to awards based on current eligible enrollment. This review process will also capture any students who are eligible for Summer Pell Grant but did not submit this application.
Students who have attended and received financial aid at multiple institutions within the last four award years may be selected for review by the US Department of Education. These students must complete and submit the Unusual Enrollment History form so that the Financial Aid Office can determine their eligibility for federal student aid.